Sexual Violence occurs when someone forces or manipulates someone else into any unwanted act of sexual nature either physical or non-physical without their consent. Sexual violence includes but is not limited to sexual assault, sexual harassment, and sexual exploitation.

Sexual assault is an assault of a sexual nature that violates the sexual integrity of the survivor.

Sexual Assault is a criminal offence under the Criminal Code of Canada. Under the Criminal Code sexual assault is defined by three levels:

Level One – Sexual assault (section 271)

Level Two – Sexual assault with a weapon, threats to a third party or causing bodily harm (section 272)

Level Three – Aggravated sexual assault (section 273)

Sexual Assault is a prevalent issue in Canada. Yet, relatively few incidents of sexual assault are reported to the police. Most sexual assaults are committed by someone that the Survivor’s knows.

People of any gender can experience a sexual assault. Everyone regardless of gender or sexual orientation has the right to receive the same level of support following sexual assault.

Acts of sexual assault are motivated by power inequalities, intolerance, hatred or discrimination of a person’s identity including race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, age, and social economic status.

1 in 3 women and 1 in 10 men will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime. Those labelled with disabilities, 2SLGBTQQIA + people, Indigenous women, women of color, and those working in sex work are often victimized at much high rates.