Understanding Consent
- Consent is...
- Obvious. In the simplest context, consent is giving permission for something to happen or making an agreement to do something.
- Consenting to sexual activity means there has been a voluntary agreement to engage in a sexual activity with another person(s).
- Consent is about respect and communication between all persons involved in the sexual activity.
- Consent is simple - never assume. Ask and respect your partner's wishes.
- A wanted encounter. If it is not okay with you or your partner, then it is not okay!
- Consent is NOT...
- Consent is not valid when it's gained through pressure, coercion, force, or threats of force (Criminal Code of Canada Section 273.1).
- Consent is not valid if someone else says ‘yes’ for an individual or any other person(s) that is engaging in a sexual encounter.
- Consent is not valid if the accused abuses a position of trust or authority in order to get another person to engage in a sexual encounter.
- Consent is not valid if the person says 'no' or shows 'no' through non verbal communication such as silence, cringing, shaking their head no, pushing away, turning away, looking away, avoiding eye contact etc...
- Consent is not valid if the person is not capable of giving consent (e.g. traumatized, under the influence of alcohol or drugs, is unconscious).
- Constant. Just because consent has been given to a person once before or multiple times before does not automatically mean consent applies all the time. Consent must be obtained and permission given for each and every sexual contact to occur.
Consent can be...
- Withdrawn. A person is allowed to change her/his decision to participate in any sexual encounter or activity at any point in time.
To learn more about what the laws of consent for sex mean for you please see this Guide To Understanding Consent from Alberta Health Services.
What is Sexual Assault?
The Criminal Code of Canada states that sexual assault is any form of sexual contact without that person’s consent or voluntary agreement. Consent cannot be obtained through force, use of threats, harassing behaviours, bullying, manipulation or when someone is under the influence of alcohol/drugs and cannot give complete approval.
Any unwanted sexual contact --including kissing, touching, groping, oral penetration, vaginal or anal penetration etc.--under ANY circumstances is sexual assault.
For more information about the crime of sexual assault, visit calgarycasa.com
Any unwanted sexual contact --including kissing, touching, groping, oral penetration, vaginal or anal penetration etc.--under ANY circumstances is sexual assault.
For more information about the crime of sexual assault, visit calgarycasa.com
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