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 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.
In some situations, a person’s consent is not valid. In the eyes of the law, it’s as though the person did not consent.
The law sets the minimum age for consenting to a sexual activity.
Reporting Sexual Assault
Is there a time limit for taking an aggressor to court for sexual assault? Who takes the aggressor to court? Does the victim have to hire a lawyer? The answers are different for civil and criminal cases.
The criminal court process can be difficult for victims. So, the law gives them special rights to ensure they play a role in court cases against their aggressors.
Other Illegal Behaviour
Some actions are not considered sexual assault. But they are still against the law, and you can still report them.
Services and Remedies
Victims of sexual assault have various services and remedies available to them.
