Violence, consent, reporting, remedies, court cases, compensation . . . Sexual assault is a delicate matter and raises many questions. Éducaloi has created this special guide to answer questions you might have. It also lists resources for victims and survivors of crimes and their loved ones.
Sexual Assault and Consent
Consent means agreement. The law says that a sexual act without the free and informed consent of both partners can be a sexual assault.
Other Illegal Behaviour
Some actions are not considered sexual assault. But they are still against the law, and you can still report them.
Filing a Complaint and the Criminal Legal Process
A victim can choose to file a complaint with the police, even many years later. This can lead to a criminal trial before the courts.
A victim who fears for their safety can also ask for a peace bond (an “810”). A court can grant this protective measure even if no one has been found guilty of a crime.
A criminal trial can be stressful for victims. Some special arrangements are available to make testifying easier.
Services and Other Recourses
Victims of sexual assault have various services and recourses available to them. It’s not necessary to file a police complaint to benefit from these.
LGBTQ+
These resources were designed to meet the specific needs of LGBTQ+ persons.