Sexual Violence Prevention Month begins May 1st.
In awareness of this month, we can take the time to learn (in this post) about what sexual violence is, resources, and how to respond to someone that has been sexually assaulted.
NOTE: View poster imagery below text.
What is sexual violence?
Sexual violence refers to any sexual act that occurs without consent. This means that sexual violence can come from any person, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, and regardless of their relationship to the victim/survivor.
Sexual violence does not only refer to physical violence and can describe a range of actions, such as, but not limited to:
– Unwanted sexual comments
– Sharing of intimate photos without permission
– Unwanted kissing and/or touching
– Threatening an individual to perform sex(ual acts)
– Sexual assault
– Catcalling and/or whistling
What resources are there for survivors of sexual assault?
NOTE: If you are in immediate danger/in need of help, dial 911 or your local police.
– Avalon: Call (902) 422-4240 for general inquiries or (902) 817-3821 for inquiries regarding trauma therapy
– Child Protection: Call 1-877-424-1177 between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm on weekdays; Call 1-866-922-2434 between 4:30 pm and 8:30 am on weekdays and weekends or holidays
– Juniper House: 1-800-266-4087
– Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE): 1-833-577-7263
– Independent Legal Advice: Call 2-1-1 or visit novascotia.ca/sexualassaultlegaladvice
What if someone you know tells you that they have been sexually assaulted?
1. Listen to them – Don’t interrupt. People may need time to process what has happened. Moments of silence are okay.
2. Believe them – No one deserves to have a sexually violent act happen to them, and it is never the victim/survivor’s fault. Avoid “why” questions as it may make them feel as though the violence was their fault.
3. Provide information/resources – Everyone’s situation is different, and people need to do what’s best for them. Provide them with resources, information, and contacts as necessary (refer to Resource Page for Survivors of Sexual Assault). Let them make their own choices.
