What is sexual violence?
Sexual violence and assault are about power, control and manipulation on the part of a stranger, acquaintance, family member, friend or partner. It can happen to or be inflicted by women or men and includes the following, but is not limited to:
- Any unwanted touching or act of a sexual nature committed through physical force
- Being forced to watch or participate in unwanted sexual activity
- Any unwanted verbal comments of a sexual nature
- Rape (forced penetration of the vagina or anus)
Under Canadian law you have the right to say no to any form of sexual activity whether it is with your partner, an unfamiliar person, or your spouse. Sexual assault is never your fault. Rape is about power and control, not about the perpetrator’s sexual desire. It is an act of violence. No one has the right to pressure or force you to engage in unwanted sexual activity.
What to do if you’ve been sexually assaulted
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted there are people you can talk to. For a listing of rape crisis centres and transition houses by province and territory you can visit the Canadian Association of Sexual Assault Centres . They will outline your options, including medical attention, filing a police report, and getting counselling.
If you have been sexually assaulted get medical attention. If you are at risk of becoming pregnant, you can use emergency contraception up to five days after unprotected sex. You may be offered something called post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), which is a strict regimen of antiviral drugs that, if taken immediately after the assault, may help reduce the risk of HIV infection. The effectiveness of PEP is uncertain and difficult to determine. It needs to be taken almost immediately after the assault and requires that all medication be taken as directed over a set period of time. The medication often causes harsh side effects and as a result, many people who are prescribed PEP do not complete the pill regimen.
Ten to fourteen days after the assault, you can be tested for sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia, syphilis and gonorrhea. HIV won’t show up in a test until three months after the assault.
How to educate and empower yourself
- Learn more about healthy and unhealthy relationships so you can identify potentially abusive situations.
- Be confident and assertive when establishing your limits in a sexual situation.
- Be aware that excessive consumption of alcohol and/or drugs may put you in a potentially risky situation.
- Carry a whistle.
- Keep informed about violence against women in your community. If this information is not readily available, pressure the police to keep the community informed.