Sexual Assault

Sexual assault is far more common than most people suspect. Relatively few instances are ever reported to the police. Most Canadians know someone who has been sexually or physically assaulted, or have been themselves.

Sexual assault involves any kind of unwanted sexual touching, kissing, grabbing, fondling, sex (oral or anal), or sexual intercourse that is forced on a person without their consent.

Sexual violence of any kind is not about sex: it is about fear and control and power. It can change a victim for the rest of their lives.

About Sexual Assault
If You Are the Victim of Sexual Assault
Supporting Someone Who Has Been Sexually Assaulted
When Alcohol and Drugs Are Involved

About Sexual Assault

About 20,000 sexual assaults are reported to the police each year in Canada. But since we know that less than 10% of sexual assaults are ever reported to police, particularly when a family member is involved, the actual number of sexual assaults that occur is much higher.

1140x450_assault_stats

Most sexual assaults do not involve a stranger attacking in a dark alleyway or park, contrary to popular belief and portrayals of sexual assault in popular culture. Most cases of sexual assault are committed by someone close to the victim.

While young and otherwise vulnerable women are most likely to be sexually assaulted, sexual assault can happen to anyone, at any age, including men and women, boys and girls. It can happen on one single occasion, or it can happen repeatedly.

Sexual assault is a crime with serious consequences. It can cause anxiety, depression, destroy a person’s sense of self-worth, rob them of their sense of trust and security, ability to maintain relationships and enjoy sex, and can haunt a victim for the rest of their life.

If the abuse is frequent, committed by a family member, or involves sexual intercourse, the impact can be even stronger. Sexual abuse often makes victims feel alone, worthless, confused, and afraid.

If You Are the Victim of Sexual Assault

If you are forced into sexual activity against your will by a sexual partner, friend, relative, family member, or anyone else, it is sexual assault and it is against the law. Feelings of shock, fear, and shame are common reactions to sexual assault. If you are a victim of sexual assault, it is important to speak up and tell someone, in order to avoid having it happen again, to you or to someone else. It can be traumatic to relive the event, but there are support services available to help.

Call a sexual assault hotline or sexual assault crisis centre for advice and help. The following website provides a list of sexual assault crisis centres across Canada www.casac.ca/content/anti-violence-centres.

You should consider calling the police; the sexual assault centre will help you understand your options. Your body is your own and no one else should ever have control over it.

570x425_assault

Supporting Someone Who Has Been Sexually Assaulted

If a friend or family member tells you that they think they may have been, or have been sexually assaulted, it is important to help and support them as best you can. Sometimes a person who has been sexually assaulted may appear dazed and confused. Or they may be visibly traumatized or upset. Feelings of shock, fear, and shame are common reactions to sexual assault.

Here are some points to consider:

Does the person feel physically safe where they are? If possible escort the person to a place where they feel safe.
Is the person physically injured? If a person has been sexually assaulted they should be encouraged to seek medical attention even if they feel fine physically.
Offer to accompany the person to an emergency room or clinic and stay by their side.

Call a sexual assault centre for guidance on what to do and how to support your friend or family member.
If the person is an adult it is their decision whether to report the assault to the police. You can encourage them to report it and help them by offering to stay at their side during the reporting process.
The most important thing you can do is provide your understanding and emotional support in a difficult time.

When Alcohol and Drugs Are Involved

Protecting yourself from sexual assault means being responsible with alcohol and drug use. It is important to understand that the effects of alcohol and drugs might put you in a vulnerable situation to potential assault, without even realizing it. Date sexual assaults are much more likely to occur when one or both dating partners have consumed large amounts of alcohol.

Our ability to make decisions and to clearly communicate become very flawed when drugs or alcohol are involved. With heavy drug or alcohol use, the body can lose control of its actions, or be numbed and unable to react. Alcohol and drugs can also be used intentionally to put a potential victim into a more vulnerable state. Slipping a drug into someone’s drink can sedate them, limit their coordination, and/or cause amnesia.

sogc_sex_u_image_1140px_when_alcohol

Consider the following tips to protect yourself:

Surround yourself with close friends and people you trust.
Be aware of your friends’ behaviour (e.g. if a friend looks more intoxicated than they should for the number of drinks they have consumed).
Designate at least one person to limit or avoid drinking or drug use.
Have a phone readily accessible and someone you can call.
As much as possible, choose locations that you are familiar with.
Tell someone you trust as soon as you feel you have passed your limit of control.

Watch your drinks being poured.
Ask the bartender for a lid.
Don’t leave your drinks unattended while talking, dancing, using your phone, or going to the washroom.
If you have left your drink unattended, get a new one.
When in doubt, don’t drink it.