Recherche

Prevention strategies are developed to reduce the risk factors associated with sexual assault. To learn which community and societal factors can contribute to sexual assault, see the Risk factors section.

Sexual violence can occur in a variety of contexts, including the family, intimate relationships, school, sports and the workplace. With the increasing use of information technologies, sexual violence can also occur in cyberspace.

Sexual harassment is any form of unwanted verbal, non-verbal, or physical conduct of a sexual or sexist nature that occurs repeatedly or during a single serious incident. It violates fundamental rights, including the rights to equality and human dignity.

Although it is impossible to assess the prevalence of child pornography in cyberspace, it is clear that the easy access to such material and the anonymity provided by the Internet have contributed considerably to increasing the exchange of this type of pornography.

Sexual assault by women accounts for about 5% of all sexual offences.

Current data suggest that sexual abuse in childhood is more prevalent among people who commit sexual assault than among the general public. In addition, it may be slightly more prevalent among people who sexually abuse children.

When a person commits a new sexual offence, regardless of whether the offence is prosecuted in court or not, this can be considered recidivism.

The number of children who make false allegations of sexual abuse is lower than the number of children who do not disclose or deny having been sexually abused. The way in which a child is interviewed by a parent, an adult in their social network (e.g., teacher, neighbour), or a socio-legal professional about a case of alleged sexual abuse is one of the most studied and strongest predictors of…

If you have experienced sexual violence, call the Sexual Violence Helpline: 1 888 933‑9007. In case of emergency, call your local police department: 9-1-1.