Good To Know
On this page, you will find some basic information about sexual violence, consent and boundaries, staying safe, and getting support.
Did you know?
Consent is when all people involved in an activity want to participate, and is always necessary for all sexual activities.
Sexual violence is an abuse of power and control.
Anyone of any age, gender, background, or appearance can be a victim of sexual violence.
Sexual violence can also occur between people who are dating.
Sexual violence is never the victim's fault.
Only a perpetrator deserves to feel shame and guilt.
Did you know?
Frequently Asked Questions
Find below the answers to commonly asked questions!
Consent is when all people involved in an activity want to participate, and is always necessary for all sexual activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find below the answers to commonly asked questions!
Sexual violence is an abuse of power and control.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find below the answers to commonly asked questions!
Anyone of any age, gender, background, or appearance can be a victim of sexual violence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find below the answers to commonly asked questions!
Sexual violence can also occur between people who are dating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find below the answers to commonly asked questions!
Sexual violence is never the victim's fault.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find below the answers to commonly asked questions!
Only a perpetrator deserves to feel shame and guilt.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find below the answers to commonly asked questions!
Frequently Asked Questions
Find below the answers to commonly asked questions!
Sexual violence is, broadly speaking, any sexual act to which a person did not agree to take part in. Any sexual act to which you or your friend did not consent can then be considered sexual violence.
Sexual violence does not always include physical contact, and it can also occur online. For example, sexual questions or comments from an adult to a child, sending someone an unwanted naked picture, sharing a nude picture of a minor, or starting a sexual conversation with a minor are all acts of sexual violence.
Remember! If anyone has made you or your friend feel uncomfortable and broken your/your friend’s boundaries, it’s important to tell a trusted adult who can help you find support.
Consent means that all people involved in an activity want to participate. Consent is always necessary for all sexual activities.
Consent means that the people taking part in an activity know what the activity in question is, agree on how far it will go, and clearly say or communicate that they want to take part in it. The best way to give consent is by saying it out loud (e.g., saying “yes”), but it can also be communicated through clear expressions and body language. Consent can’t be given when it is the result of pressure, manipulation, threat, or force.
Consent can be taken away at any time, for any reason or even if there isn't one. Even if a person agrees to take part in an activity at first, they can change their mind at any point. If a person does not say “no”, it does not mean that they say “yes”. Silence or uncertainty does not mean someone has agreed to an activity. Agreeing to one thing doesn't mean yes to everything.
Any sexual act to which you or your friend did not consent can be considered sexual violence. If someone's words or actions have made you or your friend feel uncomfortable, confused, unsafe, pressured, or disrespected, it's important to reach out to a trusted adult. They can help you figure out what's going on and what to do next. You don't have to be certain to reach out for support.
Sexual violence can happen online, in person, or both. No matter where you have experienced sexual violence, remember that you and your friend are not alone. There are many different resources listed here that can be helpful to you and your friend. You can also learn more about how to get support here.
If you believe that you, your friend or anyone else are in immediate danger, call your local emergency number to get help.
For non-emergency situations: You can find more information about available support services on this page.
Sexual violence is never the victim’s fault, no matter what has happened. People who experience sexual violence, and those close to them, often feel shame and guilt which is a natural response to experiencing something traumatic. Even if the guilt and shame feels overwhelming, it doesn't mean you did anything wrong. The responsibility belongs to the person who caused harm.
Feelings of guilt and shame often keep people from telling anyone about what happened. However, not telling safe adults never helps the situation. It only helps the perpetrator hide their actions. Even if a young person sends nudes of themselves or makes a mistake online, the responsibility always lies on the perpetrator of sexual violence, like the person who shares the images. Sharing a nude picture of a minor is a crime, and only the perpetrator deserves to feel shame and guilt. Even if you or your friend feel guilty, ashamed, or unsure, you deserve support. A trusted adult can connect you to the right help.
It’s never your friend’s fault if someone hurt them or shared their private pictures online. Not telling an adult can make things worse. Here are some ways you can help your friend:
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Listen and Believe: Listen to your friend and believe what they say.
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Reassure: Tell your friend that what happened is not their fault, and that they are not alone.
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Encourage: Encourage your friend to tell a trusted adult, like a teacher, school counsellor or a school psychologist. Learn how to tell a safe adult here.
Your friend might feel embarrassed, ashamed, anxious, or scared and think that telling an adult will only make things worse. If that happens:
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Offer to go with your friend to talk to a safe adult.
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Offer to talk to a safe adult for your friend.
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If talking is hard, suggest writing down what happened and bringing or sending it to a safe adult. You can find ready-made message templates here.
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For example, a safe adult could be your parents or a relative, your friend’s parents or a relative, a teacher, a school counsellor, a school psychologist, a school nurse, a coach, a hobby instructor, or a youth worker.
Some adults are so-called mandated reporters, which means that they are required by law to report to the police and child protective services when they think that a minor may be experiencing abuse or neglect. For example, teachers and medical professionals are mandated reporters. You can always ask an adult if they are a mandated reporter.
Not all adults are mandated reporters, so a report may or may not be made depending on who you tell. If you tell someone who isn’t a mandated reporter, they might need more information on how to report it. Even if they aren’t required to report it, it is still a good idea to talk to a trusted adult who can help you. Together, you can discuss how reporting could help you or your friend and figure out the best way to tell the police about what happened.
Telling a safe adult can help stop the violence from continuing and keep you and your friend safe. A safe adult can intervene and help stop what is happening to you or your friend, empower you or your friend to get support and start to recover, and help ensure a young person’s rights are fulfilled. Telling a safe adult can help make sure the perpetrator is caught and won’t commit any more crimes, potentially protecting other people from sexual violence, too.
Learn more about how to tell a trusted adult about what happened here.
You are not alone. It is okay to feel unsure, uncomfortable, or scared about reporting. And it is okay if you aren’t ready to make a report right now, but you always can if you want to. There is no requirement to make a report, but reporting can help you get the right kind of help and make sure your rights are protected.
The #MyFriendToo webpage has different resources available to help you and your friend. Visit the Resource Page or click Get Support to learn more about services that could help you or your friend.
Learn more about reporting here.
Share this webpage with your children and members of your community. Let your children know that help is always available and they are never alone. Visit the Resource Page or click Get Support to find more information about how your child or their friend can get help.
You can also download #MyFriendToo materials from this webpage and share them, for example, at your workplace, local school, or youth center, to raise awareness of sexual violence and the support available. You can find downloadable materials here.
Share this webpage with children, colleagues, caregivers, and other adults in your community. Let children know that help is always available and they are never alone. Visit the Resource Page or click Get Support to find more information about how children can access support.
You can also download #MyFriendToo materials from this webpage and share them, for example, at your workplace, local school, or youth center, to raise awareness of sexual violence and the support available. You can find downloadable materials here.