Rape is unwanted sexual intercourse. Under the law, sexual assault is any unwanted act of a sexual nature, including rape and any other unwanted fondling or touching.

Most people believe that sexual assault happens in “dangerous” places such as dark alleys or parking lots. More than half of all sexual assaults take place in homes or residence rooms. 

Sexual assault can happen to anyone at any time. Females and males are sexually assaulted by people of the same or opposite gender; however, the majority of offences are committed by men against women (Statistics Canada, 2001).

Most assaults are committed by people known to the person: friends, dates, partners (including spouses), parents, doctors, caregivers, employers, teachers, and attendants. Unfortunately, many people who are assaulted by someone they know deny themselves the support they need or blame themselves for what happened, even though it was not their fault.

Regardless of what a person wears, where a person goes, what or how much a person drinks, sexual assault is not invited. Sexual assault is not the victim’s fault.

People rarely make false reports about sexual assault.

Every person responds to the trauma of sexual assault differently, including crying, anger, silence or calmness. Behaviour is not an indicator of the experience of trauma.

More than 80% of sexual assaults that occur on university and college campuses are committed by someone the victim knows, and 50% occur on dates. Many of these assaults happen during the first eight weeks of classes.(Source: University of Alberta)

Sexual assault is any unwanted act of a sexual nature imposed by one person upon another.

By law people have the right to say no to any form of sex, even in a romantic relationship

Women with disabilities at a high risk, those who live with activity limitations are over two times more likely to be victims of sexual assault than those who are able-bodies