Here you will find the definition of sexual violence, its forms, statistics, and what consent means.
What is Sexual Violence?
The CALACS La Vigie believes that sexual violence is not just an individual problem, but a broader societal issue rooted in relationships of inequality. There is an intersection between patriarchy and other contexts of oppression, discrimination, and exclusion, which fosters exploitation and facilitates sexual violence.
- Sexual violence is an assertion of power;
- Women and children are disproportionately victims of it;
- It involves imposing sexual gestures, attitudes, and words without the person’s consent;
- Several strategies can be used, including intimidation, threats, blackmail, violence, pressure, manipulation, etc.;
- Sexual violence violates fundamental rights.
Source : Regroupement québécois des CALACS (2012). Sexual assaults are not acceptable. Let’s react together! Retrieved August 5, 2016, from https://rqcalacs.qc.ca/en/.
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There are seven forms of sexual violence:
These forms are all serious and punishable by law. There is no scale of severity when it comes to sexual violence, and all of them can have consequences for the victims.
Exhibitionism
Someone who gets naked or masturbates in front of me without my consent in order to make me feel uncomfortable or afraid.
Ex. : During a party, two guys showed me their genitals.
Voyeurism
Someone who observes me in my privacy without my consent.
Ex. : My neighbor comes to watch me through the bathroom window when I take a shower.
Incest
Sexual violence committed by a person with a family connection.
Ex. : My father touched me from the age of 6 to 10.
Sexual assault
Refers to rape, touching or attempted rape.
Ex. : The other day my boyfriend forced me to have sex with him, even though I didn’t want to.
Sexual harassment
Insistent comments or behaviors with a sexual connotation that may be made repeatedly.
Ex. : My boss often jokes that he would like to know if I am good in bed.
Sexual exploitation
Someone who will benefit from another person’s sexuality.
Ex. I sent a naked photo of myself to my boyfriend and he showed the photo to his friends if they gave him $5.
Sexual cyberviolence
Form of sexual violence committed using technology. This includes sharing intimate photos without consent.
Ex. : A young person sent videos of himself masturbating on Snapchat.
Source : Content partially drawn from or adapted from internal documents of CALACS members of the Regroupement québécois des CALACS.
Statistics
The following statistics are taken directly from the “Guide d’information à l’intention des victimes d’agression sexuelle” which also contains a wealth of relevant information for people who have experienced sexual violence, and for those close to them.
Victims
- 1 in 3 women has been a victim of at least one sexual assault since age 16.1
- 1 in 6 men will be a victim of sexual assault in their lifetime.1
- Over 75% of Indigenous girls under 18 have been sexually assaulted.1
- 40% of women with physical disabilities will experience at least one sexual assault in their lifetime.1
- 39-68% of women with intellectual disabilities will be victims of at least one sexual assault before age 18.1
- 67% of victims are under 18 years old.2
- 84% of sexual assault victims are female (54% are young girls, 30% are adult women).2
- 1 in 9 women is sexually assaulted at least once by her partner.2
- More than 80% of victims know their aggressor.2
- Nearly 70% of sexual assaults occur in a private residence.2
- Only 1 in 20 sexual assaults is reported to the police.4
Aggressors
- 25% of sexual aggressors are under 18 years old.2
- In 96% of cases reported to the police, the aggressor is male; in 4%, the aggressor is female.3
- 95% of sexual aggressors under 18 commit their crime against a minor, compared to 58% of adult sexual aggressors.3
1. Source : Government of Quebec, Orientations gouvernementales en matière d’agression sexuelle, Quebec, 2001.
2. Source : Data from police statistics recorded in 2014 and updated in 2015 by the DUC 2.2 program, provided by the Ministry of Public Security.
3. Source : Ministry of Public Security, Infractions sexuelles au Québec : Faits saillants 2014, Direction de la prévention et de l’organisation policière, 2016.
4. Source : Perreault, S., “La victimisation criminelle au Canada, 2014,” Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, 2015, pp. 23-25. 23-25.
Consent
- Consent is a clearly expressed agreement, either through words or encouraging actions. Even if everyone expresses desire differently, a person willing to engage in sexual activity will actively participate and show enthusiasm.
- Consent must be given voluntarily. Consent obtained through threats, blackmail, pressure, or manipulation is not valid.
- Informed consent is essential. A person under the influence of substances (alcohol, drugs, certain medications) cannot give consent, as their judgment is impaired.
- Consent is required for each sexual activity and must be reaffirmed every time. Ensure the person agrees to different sexual practices (e.g., fellatio, cunnilingus, penetration, anal sex, acts of violence during sex).
- Consent can be withdrawn at any time. A person may wish to perform certain acts only. They can start a sexual activity and then suddenly not want to continue. They may have promised to engage in sexual activity at a specific time but change their mind later. Their partner must be able to accept this refusal.
