After the recent reporting of a sexual assault in the Prince George Citizen online, there were a variety of blog responses that perpetuate the myths surrounding sexual assault and sexual violence.
At this time I would like to take the opportunity to dispel to some of those myths. Firstly, according to the Criminal Code of Canada sexual assault includes any form of nonconsensual sexual activity (including, but not limited to, nonconsensual kissing, touching, sexual intercourse, etc).
In other words, sexual assault is any unwanted act of a sexual nature imposed by one person upon another without consent, and may not include penetration.
In regards to questioning the validity of the assault, it is not common for victims to make up a sexual assault, as a form of retaliation or any other reason for that matter. To suggest this, only fuels faulty beliefs surrounding sexual violence, and creates an environment where victims rather than offenders are forced to take responsibility for sexual violence.
Leslie Tozer
(SOS) Society
Prince George
