One in three teenage girls have been 'sexually assaulted by their boyfriends'

The rising sexual influence on television is being blamed for the alarming increase in assault cases
 

A third of teenage girls have been victims of sexual violence by a boyfriend, campaigners said last night.

Experts fear that some do not even realise they are victims of a crime and others are too terrified or embarrassed to speak out.

They blame the problem on the sexualisation of teenagers as TV, films and the internet bombard them with provocative messages.

The number of teenagers under the age of 18 are suffering the most
 

Sexual violence is often fuelled by online pornography that can be shared between mobile phones at the click of a button.

The Government revealed the figure before the launch today of an unprecedented advertising campaign to stem the tide of abuse.

Its hard-hitting advert is the first to confront teenagers with the grim reality of rape.

Ministers believe some young people define sexual consent too loosely. Research has shown some boys think girls must have sex with them if they spend enough money on them.

And campaigners say teenage girls often accept abuse in a relationship because they do not realise it is wrong or know how to stop it.

Based on research by the NSPCC and the University of Bristol involving 1,353 teenagers, the Home Office says a third of girls aged 13 to 17 have been the victim of some form of sexual violence from a partner.

It is thought that up to 900,000 young women are victims of sexual crimes that are likely to leave them scarred for life.

Further research found the highest proportion of sexual abuse is perpetrated by under-18s.

Officials discovered that while most teenagers know rape is wrong, many do not realise that sex without consent is always a crime.

The advertisement – to be broadcast on TV, in cinemas and online – urges young people to rethink their view of what constitutes rape.

It will be screened to viewers of TV programmes popular with teenagers such as Skins and Hollyoaks.

Both dramas have featured plots involving troubled adolescent relationships, violence and sexuality.

The advert shows an unwilling teenage girl being forced into sex by a boy at a party, superimposed with the words: ‘If you could see yourself, would you see rape?’ 

Campaigners believe explicit music videos and TV programmes are partly responsible for distorted views of sexual violence among young people.

And last month, NSPCC research found fewer than one in five girls who are sexually assaulted by boys tells anyone if the offender is under 18.

The charity said adolescents are responsible for a third of all sex offences committed against children, and in three out of four of these cases the victim will know the offender.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: ‘This hard-hitting campaign shows that rape is not just about violent attacks by strangers.

‘We want to bring this issue out into the open and get young people talking about the importance of consent.

‘The campaign will give teenagers the facts and support they need to recognise abuse and form healthy relationships.’ 

Jon Brown, of the NSPCC, said: ‘This campaign is highlighting a hugely important issue for teenagers, particularly girls who are raped or forced to carry out other sexual acts.

‘Many young people misguidedly accept this as part of a relationship and do nothing about it.

‘We have to change that view because this is sexual abuse and should not be tolerated.’

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk