If you are in immediate danger, call 911 right away
Together, we can help prevent sexual violence.
Everyone has the right to feel safe from sexual violence in post-secondary settings — regardless of age, gender, or cultural background. From recognizing the signs and standing up to harmful behaviour, to promoting respect and consent in our own relationships, we can all make a difference.
Where to get help on campus
Find what resources are available at your institution. You can get support regardless of when or where the incident took place.
B.C. requires all public post-secondary institutions to have a sexual violence policy by law. Find your institution’s here.
On this page
What is sexual violence?
Sexual violence is any unwanted sexual behaviour that is committed, attempted, or threatened. It can be physical or psychological and can occur in person or via technology. It can be ongoing, or a one-time event.
How do we recognize sexual violence? It includes, but is not limited to:
- Sexual assault
- Sexual harassment
- Non-consensual sharing of an intimate image
- Additional unwanted sexual behaviours:
- Making jokes related to sexual violence or making inappropriate sexual comments
- Whistling, catcalling, or leering
- Pressuring someone for dates or sexual activity
- Mistreating someone for saying no to sexual activity
What is consent?
Consent is a mutual agreement to take part in an activity – it requires everyone involved to agree. It is more than a simple yes or no. Consent is an ongoing process of checking in with yourself and others. It’s ensuring comfort and addressing any changes to how you, or others, feel.
When it comes to sexual activities, consent involves giving willing permission. You need someone’s permission before taking, sharing, or posting their photos online. This includes any private or personal images.
Consent is:
- Given at each stage of a sexual interaction. And/or when there is a shift from one sexual activity to another (e.g., moving from hugging to kissing)
- Voluntary and freely given without pressure, guilt, or force. If someone pressures a person into an activity, that is not consent
- Sought each time, even if a person has agreed to sexual activity in the past
Consent can given verbally, such as saying “That feels good” or “Let’s keep going.” It can also be shown through actions, like actively participating or responding positively.
While non-verbal cues, such as body language, can sometimes indicate consent, they are not always clear for everyone. If there’s any uncertainty, asking is a good way to be sure of how someone feels.
Everyone must have the ability to agree to any sexual activity. Using drugs or alcohol can impact a person’s ability to give clear, voluntary consent. It can also change the way a person interprets consent.
When a substance is involved: it’s essential to check in with yourself and your partner.
Clear signs that a person does not have the capacity to consent include:
- Slurred speech
- Vomiting
- Loss of coordination
- Stumbling
- Being unable to hold their head up
- Being asleep or unconscious
Tips for having consent conversations
Boundaries help us define what we are comfortable with and how we like or expect to be treated. People have emotional and physical boundaries. In any sexual relationship, it’s important to know your own boundaries and to respect the other person’s boundaries too.
To help establish boundaries within a consensual sexual relationship:
- Have conversations about what makes us feel comfortable or uncomfortable
- Ask our partner to respect our privacy and personal space
- Ask our partner if they are okay with certain kinds of touch or activities
- Check in regularly with our partner about changes in their interests or comfort levels
It can feel a little awkward at first, but with practice we can get better at communicating our boundaries and asking others about their boundaries and comfort levels.
Being an active bystander
A bystander is anyone who is a witness to an event or situation where harmful behaviour is happening. An active bystander is someone who notices harmful behaviour and finds safe ways to intervene.
An active bystander is someone who:
- Looks out for others and supports people who may be the target of harmful behaviours
- Intervenes in appropriate ways
- Considers their own safety and the safety of others
- Works to build a community that does not allow sexual violence
If you witness sexual violence, how can you intervene as an active bystander? First and foremost, consider your safety and that of anyone around you. If you feel in imminent danger, call 911. If that’s not possible, look for security personnel or staff nearby.
A safe way to step in as a bystander is to use the 4 Ds: Direct, Distract, Delegate, and Delay.
Direct
Approach the situation directly
This could include speaking to the person doing the potentially harmful behaviour or to the person who is being affected.
Examples of direct statements:
- “That’s inappropriate/disrespectful/not okay”
- “Leave them alone”
Directly confronting the situation can be risky, so please use caution. There may be a risk violence is redirected towards you. Intervention could escalate the situation for the person experiencing harm.
Distract
Break the flow of potential violence
This could include creating a distraction or interrupting the situation. It can also work to begin talking about something unrelated.
Examples:
- Pretend to be lost and ask for direction
- Ask for the time
- Pretend you know the person
- Spill a drink or make a commotion
When you use this approach, you usually want to focus on the person who is experiencing the harm. This works to break the flow of what is happening in a manner that is non-confrontational.
Delegate
Find another person to intervene on your behalf
Delegate involves asking for help or assistance from someone else.
Examples:
- Find a friend, a supervisor, faculty member or a staff person, at your institution and ask them to intervene
- Work together with those near you who notice what’s happening and might be in a better position to intervene
- You can also consider calling a security officer or 911 to request help. Before contacting 911, try to check in with the person being targeted to make sure they want you to do this. Some people may not be comfortable with the intervention of law enforcement. It may not always be possible to check in first, so use your best judgement
Delay
Check-in with the person who experienced harm after the fact
Even if you can’t act in the moment, you can make a difference for the person who has experienced violence after the situation has ended.
Examples:
- Ask them if they’re okay
- Let them know that what has happened to them isn’t their fault
- Ask them if there’s any way you can support them, such as accompanying them to their destination or sitting with them for a bit
- Offer to share resources or help them make a formal allegation if they want to
- If you’ve documented the incident, ask them if they want you to send it to them
If you’ve offered to help and someone declines, respect their decision, whatever it is.
Safe ways to take a stand
Trust Your Instincts
If something feels wrong or unsafe, listen to that feeling. You do not need to justify why you feel uncomfortable.
Prioritize Your Safety
If you feel unsafe, think about what might help you feel more secure in the moment. This could include moving closer to others, finding a well-lit area, or identifying an exit. You are not obligated to take any specific action — choose what feels right for you.
Use Your Support Network
If you can, contact someone you trust (friend, family, colleague) and let them know where you are and what’s happening. Share your location if possible.
Seek Help
If you feel in imminent danger, call 911. If that’s not possible, look for security personnel or staff nearby.
Access Support Services
If you need victim support, call VictimLinkBC at 1-800-563-0808. It provides information and helps connect people to services. It also offers immediate support to people harmed by crime, including family or sexual violence.
Support resources for survivors
Where to get help in B.C.
Call 911 if you or someone you know is in immediate danger.
If you need victim support, call VictimLinkBC at 1-800-563-0808.
Where to get help on campus
Find what resources are available at your institution. You can receive support regardless of when or where the incident took place.
Get informed
B.C. requires all public post-secondary institutions to have a sexual violence policy by law.
Acknowledgements
This information is adapted from the following resources:
Consent & Sexual Violence: Training and Facilitation Guide Copyright © 2023 by Sexual Violence Training Development Team is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.
Power Dynamics and Boundaries: A Sexualized Violence Prevention Workshop for Graduate Students Copyright © 2024 by Intersectional Sexualized Violence Project – Graduate Student Resource Development Team is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.
Active Bystander Intervention: Training and Facilitation Guide Copyright © 2023 by Sexual Violence Training Development Team is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.
Safer Campuses for Everyone Training: Preventing and Responding to Sexual Violence in B.C. Post-Secondary Institutions, Copyright © 2023 by the Sexual Violence Training Development Team is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.