Definitions

Sexual violence  

Any sexual act or act targeting a person’s sexuality, gender identity or gender expression, whether the act is physical or psychological in nature, that is committed, threatened or attempted against a person without the person’s consent. It includes sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, indecent exposure, voyeurism, non-consensual condom removing (stealthing), and sexual exploitation. For further clarity, sexual assault includes rape.

Sexual assault 

Any sexual physical contact, without the consent of a person, which may include unwanted kissing, fondling, sexual intercourse, oral or anal intercourse, other forms of penetration, or any other unwanted physical contact of a sexual nature.

Sexual Harassment 

Engaging in a course of vexatious comment or conduct against a person based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression where the course of comment or conduct is known or ought reasonably to be known to be unwelcome. In some cases, one incident could be serious enough to be sexual harassment. The following is a list of examples that is not meant to be exhaustive:

a) sexual solicitation or advance where the person making the solicitation or advance is in a position to confer, grant or deny a benefit or advancement and the person making the solicitation or advance knows or ought reasonably to know that the solicitation or advance is unwelcome;

b) an implied or expressed promise of reward for complying with a sexually oriented request;

c) an implied or expressed threat of reprisal or actual reprisal for refusing to comply with a sexually oriented request;

d) a sexual relationship that constitutes an abuse of power in a relationship of authority

e) a course of sexually oriented comments or behaviours that may reasonably be perceived to create a negative psychological and emotional environment for work or study; or

f) indecent exposure, voyeurism, degrading sexual imagery, degrading comments of a sexual nature (in person or online) and cyber harassment of a sexual nature.
 

Stalking

Behaviours that occur on more than one occasion and which collectively instill fear in the person or threaten the person's safety or mental health, or that of their family or friends. Stalking includes non-consensual communications (e.g, face to face, phone, electronic); threatening or obscene conduct or gestures; surveillance and pursuit; and sending unsolicited gifts.

Indecent Exposure

The exposure of the private or intimate parts of the body in a lewd or sexual manner, in a public place when the perpetrator may be readily observed. Indecent exposure includes exhibitionism.

Voyeurism

The surreptitious observing of a person without their consent and in circumstances where they could reasonably expect privacy. voyeurism may include direct observation, observation by mechanical or electronic means or visual recordings.

Sexual Exploitation

Taking advantage of another person through non-consensual or abusive sexual control. This may include the digital or electronic broadcasting, distributing, recording and or photographing of people involved in sexual acts without their consent.

Rape culture 

A culture in which dominant ideas, social practices, media images and societal institutions implicitly or explicitly condone sexual assault by normalizing or trivializing male sexual violence and by blaming survivors for their own abuse.