Sexual Abuse and Harassment

Sexual assault and harassment are abuses of power.

Sexual assault can happen in many forms: inappropriate, unwanted touching, sexual assault (or attempt of) and/or forcing someone to engage in sexual intercourse, etc. A person can also be sexually assaulted without being touched if he or she is forced to watch sexual acts, movies or read pornographic material (Kids Help Phone).

Sexual harassment involves unwanted sexual attention. It is against the law and should be reported. Some examples are:

If someone makes sexual comments about your clothing.

If a boss or co-worker makes sexual suggestions.

(Source: Kids Help Phone)

Facts

Victims of sexual assault are most often victimized by someone they know.
It is estimated that only about 1 in 10 sexual assaults are reported to the police. Therefore, the real number of sexual assault incidents in Canada is unknown.

(Source: Statistics Canada: Sexual Assault in Canada)

What is drug-facilitated sexual assault?

Commonly referred to as “date-rape” by the media and the general public, it usually a sexual assault where the victim was under the influence of a drug that prevented him or her from resisting the assault.
Although the media often refers to GHB as the most common date-rape drug, there is not one specific drug used by aggressors to facilitate sexual assault. In most cases of drug-facilitated sexual assault, the substance found in the victim’s blood was alcohol or marijuana.
It’s important to remember that just because someone is drunk, flirting or dressed in a certain way, it does NOT mean that he/she is consenting to sexual intercourse. NO always means NO. It is never alright to take advantage of someone; the victim is never the one to be blamed for an assault.

(Source: SexualityandU)

What is consent?

Consent is when one person agrees to sexual activity with another person. It can be revoked at any point. In Canada, the age of consent is 16 years old.
Consent does NOT count if it was given:
- Due to fear, violence or threats thereof;
- When there is a power imbalance (Doctor-patient, student-teacher, etc);
- By someone who is incapacitated to the point where he/she doesn’t know what he/she is consenting to (intoxicated, on medication, etc.);
- By someone else other than the person who is concerned (like a parent or a boyfriend/girlfriend).

(Source: Educaloi – Sexual Offences and Questions of Consent )

Need Help?

If you are a victim of sexual assault…

Remember: It is NOT your fault. Only the offender is to blame for his or her actions.
It might be scary to seek help by yourself. Talk to someone you trust. If you keep this secret to yourself, you friends and family can’t be there to support you.
You should report the assault to the police. However, this is your choice. Whether you decide to report it or not, your local sexual assault or distress centre can support you and provide you with more resources.
You should go to a hospital or health clinic to make sure you’re physically okay. Most have special workers who are trained to assist victims of sexual assault.
Don’t hesitate to talk to a counsellor. What you have been through is quite traumatizing and seeking professional help can assist you in dealing with any feelings or effects you may be experiencing.
If you think you have been sexually assaulted but you are not sure, call Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868 for help. They are anonymous, certified counsellors and will give you an answer, as well as a list of resources to go to for help.

If you are a victim of sexual harassment…

Report it! Talk to a teacher, school counsellor, school principal, employer, your parents or the police.

If you suspect or know someone who is a victim of sexual assault or harassment…

Ask them how you can best support them. Each person has unique needs: some people may want to talk about what happened while others may not. Some people may want to report the assault, others don’t. All victims should be supported unconditionally, no matter what they want or decide to do.
If you don’t know what to say or what to do, that’s okay! To start off, tell them that it’s not their fault, that they’re the victim of a crime and that the offender is responsible for his/her actions. Urge them to seek out sources of support in their community like health services or the local police service; they are trained to deal with the issues they are facing.
Do some research; there are plenty of resources on in the Internet about sexual assault in general and listings for local resources in your community.

What can you do… to help end sexual assault

Learn about it!
Put an end to stereotypes and gossip!
Promote programs and other educational tools which talk about healthy relationships and respecting one another.
Promote awareness about the realities of sexual assault.

Links

Statistics Canada: Sexual Assault in Canada
Educaloi: (1) Sexual Assault – (2) Consent
SexualityandU
Kids Help Phone
Ottawa Rape Crisis Center