Rape, Sexual Assault and Harassment is never acceptable. It is never the victim's fault and those who perpetrate it chose to do so. Sex in any form or any sexual acts where a person has not given their consent is against the law. If the person is in any way incapacitated they are not able to give their consent and as a result any such act is a violation of that person.
Sexual violence is a general term used to describe any sexual activity or act (including online) that was unwanted, or where there was pressure, coercion or force.
Rape is a criminal offence which is described as when a man uses his penis to penetrate someone's vagina, anus or mouth without their consent (the person did not agree to it). The victim of the offence can be a woman or man.
Sexual Assault Sexual assault is a criminal offence and contrary to the university grievance and disciplinary procedures. A person commits sexual assault if they intentionally touch another person, the touching is sexual and the person does not consent. It is a wider term than rape and describes when a person without consent engages in any other form of sexual activity which results in physical contact with the victim, directly, through clothing, with a part of the body or an object. This includes sexually touching someone, sexual penetration with an object or part of the attacker’s body other than a penis.
Stalking/Harassment is a criminal offence and described as unwanted conduct by one person that causes distress and alarm to someone else.
Sexual harassment is unwanted and unwelcome words, conduct, or behaviour of a sexual nature that has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, embarrassing, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for the recipient. It is a misuse of personal or institutional power and often based on a person’s gender although it is rarely about sexual desire.
Sexual harassment can include but is not limited to: catcalling, following, making unnecessary and unwanted physical contact, sexual jokes and comments, giving unwelcome personal gifts, wolf-whistling, leering, derogatory comments, unwelcome comments about a person’s body or clothing, unwelcome questions about a person’s sex life and/or sexuality, engaging in unwelcome sexual propositions, invitations and flirtation, making somebody feel uncomfortable through displaying or sharing sexual material. Sexual harassment does not necessarily occur face to face and can be in the form of emails, visual images (such as sexually explicit pictures on walls in a shared environment), social media, telephone, text messages and image based sexual abuse, such as revenge porn and upskirting.
Often the impact of sexual violence is not felt or witnessed immediately. The impact may go beyond the recipient to people who see or hear what happens or who try to offer support.
Sexual harassment is unwanted and unwelcome words, conduct, or behaviour of a sexual nature that has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, embarrassing, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for the recipient. It is a misuse of personal or institutional power and often based on a person’s gender although it is rarely about sexual desire.
Sexual harassment can include but is not limited to: catcalling, following, making unnecessary and unwanted physical contact, sexual jokes and comments, giving unwelcome personal gifts, wolf-whistling, leering, derogatory comments, unwelcome comments about a person’s body or clothing, unwelcome questions about a person’s sex life and/or sexuality, engaging in unwelcome sexual propositions, invitations and flirtation, making somebody feel uncomfortable through displaying or sharing sexual material. Sexual harassment does not necessarily occur face to face and can be in the form of emails, visual images (such as sexually explicit pictures on walls in a shared environment), social media, telephone, text messages and image based sexual abuse, such as revenge porn and upskirting.
Often the impact of sexual violence is not felt or witnessed immediately. The impact may go beyond the recipient to people who see or hear what happens or who try to offer support.
If you think you have been the target of sexual misconduct, assault or harassment, it may be hard to know what to do or how to feel. What happened was not your fault. What you do next is your choice.