Sexual touch includes:
As the definition of sexual assault above indicates, there must be consent for all sexual touching, and that consent must be voluntary. This means that consent must be freely given; if someone has been manipulated to give in to unwanted touching due to coercion (guilt, repeatedly asking, emotional or financial threats, blackmail, emotional manipulation etc.) or physical force, consent has not been obtained. This may feel confusing. Remember, however, that it is never your fault if someone made you feel obligated or pressured to engage in sexual contact.
When individuals are voluntarily consenting, they are actively and enthusiastically participating in sexual contact. Their body language is comfortable and relaxed. Often, people may feel uncomfortable or afraid to say “No” verbally. This is why it is important to check in with your partner’s body language. If someone’s body is tense, closed off, they are not participating in the sexual contact, or they are giving excuses (e.g. “I’m feeling too tired.”) they are not voluntarily consenting and it is not ok to continue pursuing sexual contact with them. It is also normal for people to freeze up when they feel uncomfortable or afraid.
Voluntary consent is ongoing. People are allowed to withdraw their consent at any time during sexual contact for any reason. If your partner begins to feel uncomfortable during sexual contact, it is your responsibility to check in with them and discontinue the sexual activity. You will be able to tell if your partner is uncomfortable based on their body language and words. Voluntary consent is also act-specific and person-specific. Someone may be comfortable and voluntarily consenting to one sexual act; this does not mean, however, that they are consenting to any other sexual acts. Because voluntary consent is ongoing, consent must be obtained in the moment to ensure that someone has not changed their mind. Even if you have had sexual contact with someone before, are married, or are in an intimate relationship with them, it is important to ensure that they are voluntarily consenting to sexual contact every time you seek to engage in it.
Voluntary consent can only come from someone who is capable of consenting. Consent is only valid if an individual is conscious, over the age of consent, and in a sound state of mind. An individual must be sober enough to agree to participate in sexual contact. If someone is slurring their words, stumbling, vomiting, passed out, or acting out of character, they are not considered sober enough to engage in sexual contact. Having sexual contact with someone who is too drunk has the potential to negatively impact that individual. If you are ever uncertain whether your partner is sober enough to consent, do not engage in sexual contact with them. Doing so is not worth the harm you may cause them. The responsibility to ensure that someone is sober enough to consent rests with the individual pursuing sexual contact. This responsibility does not change if both people are intoxicated. If you were sexually assaulted while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, know that what happened is not your fault. You are not responsible for someone else hurting you.
Being sexually assaulted by someone that you know may feel confusing. Know that you are not alone, and what happened to you is not your fault
To learn what the Canadian Criminal Code says about legal consent in Canada.
The improper exposure of a child to any sexual contact, activity, or behaviour. This includes all sexual touching, the invitation to touch, exhibitionism, exposure to pornography.
Forcing another individual, through violence, threats (physical or emotional), pressure, deception, guilt, to engage in sexual activities against their will.
A voluntary agreement between 2 or more people to engage in sexual activity. Consent must be clear, informed, voluntary, sober, act and person-specific, ongoing, mutual, active, and come directly from the individuals engaging in the sexual contact. It is impossible to get consent from children, though close-in-age and peer-experimentation exceptions exist for youth ages 12-15.
A society or environment in which obtaining consent and respecting boundaries is the norm, for both sexual contact and everyday activities.
The advocacy of women’s rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes.
An intersectional approach to service delivery that acknowledges that the root of sexual violence is power inequality and works to reduce barriers that groups and individuals face when seeking support and volunteer or employment opportunities.
When an intimate photo or video is shared or taken without the voluntary consent (read consent definition above) of the person in the photo or video (Source: savedmonton.com)
Person-first language recognizes that a person is more than any one experience and that labels are sometimes harmful. People who have experienced sexual violence may use terms like victim or survivor to describe themselves, or they may use words like offender or perpetrator to describe the person who harmed them. Terms that resonate for one person may not fit for another person for a variety of reasons, and SACE supports a person’s right to self-determine their identity and experience. This is why at SACE, we default to person-first language such as “person who experienced sexual assault”, or “person who used abusive behavior”, unless speaking with or about an individual who has identified how they would like their experience to be talked about.
A society or environment whose prevailing social attitudes have the effect of normalizing or trivializing sexual assault and abuse.
Sex trafficking is a form of sexual exploitation. Human trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation is a crime and Canada has specific legislation in the Criminal Code (S. 279) and in the IRPA (Immigrant and Refugee Protection Action) (S. 117 & 118) to address all types of human trafficking (sexual exploitation, labour exploitation, organ, debt servitude) There are three elements to constitute human trafficking: Action + Means + Purpose.
Sexual abuse is most often used to refer to Child Sexual Abuse. To learn more about this, read the definition above or our section on Child Sexual Abuse.
Any form of sexual contact without voluntary consent, including unwanted: oral contact (kissing); sexual touching; oral-genital contact; and/or vaginal or anal penetration.
Any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another.
Any unwanted comment, gesture, or action that is sexual in nature that makes someone feel afraid, embarrassed, uncomfortable or ashamed. The intention of the person doing the action doesn’t matter, it’s the negative impact the action has that makes something sexual harassment.
Sexual violence is an umbrella term that refers to any form of non-consensual sexual behavior, including sexual assault, sexual abuse, sexual harassment, sexual exploitation, sex trafficking, and sexual violence facilitated through technology.
