Question
- What does it mean if someone doesn’t give their consent to a sexual act but the other person performs the act anyway?
Answer
- If someone doesn’t give consent to a sexual act, this is sexual assault
- Remember sexual assault is “when someone touches you sexually without your permission, with an object or body part”
- The Sexual Offences Act 2003 says that someone commits sexual assault if all of the following happens:
-
- They intentionally touch another person.
- The touching is sexual.
- The other person does not consent to the touching.
- They do not reasonably believe that the other person consents.
- The touching can be with any part of the body or with anything else.
It is never acceptable for someone to carry out a sexual act with another person, or make them witness a sexual act, without their consent. It is always the responsibility of the person seeking consent to ensure it’s given.