Sexual and Relationship Violence Awareness and Response

CONSENT

All sexual activity requires consent. Consent (as it applies to sexual activity) is a verbal agreement by an individual to engage in a specific sexual activity. Other types of communication, such as body language or the absence of “no” are not consent. One should assume that they have not received consent in the absence of a comprehensible, unambiguous, verbal, positive and enthusiastic statement of consent. Verbal communication before any sexual contact will insure that each person understands whether or not there is consent.

The absence of consent before and during sexual activity has serious consequences ranging from feelings of hurt and betrayal to criminal charges of the crimes of rape, sexual assault and sexual battery. If an individual is asleep, passed out, has consumed alcohol or drugs, or is in any other way impaired, she or he cannot give legal consent. Even if the individual appears to be giving consent, the presence of any controlled substance or the condition of a compromised state renders that individual unable to give legal consent. Additionally, the act of giving verbal consent in the past doesn’t imply consent for present or future sexual activity.

It is an individual’s personal responsibility to obtain consent without force, intimidation or coercion in order to engage in any sexual activity every time.


º Definitions º What is Consent? º Medical Attention º What Men Can Do º How to Help Your Partner º Date Rape Drugs/ Drug Facilitated Sexual Violence º Campus Judicial Resources º Definitions/Marginalized Communities º Is your relationship healthy? º For partners, parents and friends º POWER AND CONTROL º Definitions HOME _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ º Additional Resources CrossRoads Sexual Assault Response & Resource Center Family Abuse Services of Alamance County North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence Guilford County Resources Campus Safety and Police Health Services Counseling Services	CONSENT All sexual activity requires consent. Consent (as it applies to sexual activity) is a verbal agreement by an individual to engage in a specific sexual activity. Other types of communication, such as body language or the absence of “no” are not consent. One should assume that they have not received consent in the absence of a comprehensible, unambiguous, verbal, positive and enthusiastic statement of consent. Verbal communication before any sexual contact will insure that each person understands whether or not there is consent. The absence of consent before and during sexual activity has serious consequences ranging from feelings of hurt and betrayal to criminal charges of the crimes of rape, sexual assault and sexual battery. If an individual is asleep, passed out, has consumed alcohol or drugs, or is in any other way impaired, she or he cannot give legal consent. Even if the individual appears to be giving consent, the presence of any controlled substance or the condition of a compromised state renders that individual unable to give legal consent. Additionally, the act of giving verbal consent in the past doesn’t imply consent for present or future sexual activity. It is an individual’s personal responsibility to obtain consent without force, intimidation or coercion in order to engage in any sexual activity every time.