Information > Sexual Assault  > Consent and Coercion

Consent is when someone agrees, gives permission or says yes to sexual activity with someone else.  At the heart of consent is the idea that every person, man or woman, has a right to personal sovereignty – not to be acted upon by someone else in a sexual manner unless he or she gives clear permission to do so.  It is the responsibility of the person initiating the sexual activity to get this permission.  Absence of clear permission means you can’t touch someone, not that you can. 

Coercion is a tactic used by perpetrators to intimidate, trick, or force someone to have sex with him/her without physical force. Perpetrators use many forms of coercion, threats, and manipulation to rape including alcohol and drugs.  Read more about consent and coercion here.  

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