About Sexual Violence

Sexual violence is a broad term that describes behaviours and actions that are sexual in nature and are unwanted, coerced, and committed without consent.¹

Sexual violence often refers to sexual abuse, assault, and harassment among other things. Sexual violence is highly prevalent and it affects all individuals, families, and communities – either directly or indirectly.

  • Child Sexual Abuse is the inappropriate exposure of a child to sexual contact, activity, or behaviour.
  • Sexual Assault is any form of unwanted sexual contact without voluntary consent.
  • Sexual Harassment is any unwelcome conduct, comment, gesture, or contact that is gender-related or sexual in nature that makes the recipient feel uncomfortable, unsafe, offended, or humiliated – whether intended or not.

 

1What is Sexual Violence? By The Birds and the Bees NS