All forms of sexual misconduct, assault or harassment are unacceptable. People committing any form of sexual misconduct may also be committing a criminal offence.
Sexual Misconduct
Trinity Laban defines sexual misconduct as any unwanted or attempted unwanted conduct of a sexual nature. This includes, but is not limited to
a) sexual harassment
b) sexual assault
c) rape
Sexual Harassment
A person commits sexual harassment if they engage in unwanted conduct of a sexual nature towards another person and the conduct has the purpose or effect of violating that person’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for that person.
Some examples of sexual harassment are
Sexual Misconduct
Trinity Laban defines sexual misconduct as any unwanted or attempted unwanted conduct of a sexual nature. This includes, but is not limited to
a) sexual harassment
b) sexual assault
c) rape
Sexual Harassment
A person commits sexual harassment if they engage in unwanted conduct of a sexual nature towards another person and the conduct has the purpose or effect of violating that person’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for that person.
Some examples of sexual harassment are
- Sexual abuse through e-mail or other electronic media
- Spreading malicious rumours of a sexual nature
- Abusive or degrading remarks of a sexual nature
- Lewd, suggestive or over familiar behaviour including unwelcome sexual advances
- Staring and other intimidating behaviour
- Stalking
- Posting or sharing intimate photos or videos without consent
- Displaying or circulating sexually suggestive material or other offensive material
- Indecent exposure
Sexual assault and rape
A person commits sexual assault if they intentionally touch another person, the touching is sexual and the person does not consent.
It involves all unwanted physical contact of a sexual nature and ranges from pinching, embracing, groping and kissing, to rape, which involves penetration without consent.
Consent
When we talk about unwanted conduct and consent, we are talking about someone agreeing by choice to the conduct and having the freedom and capacity to make that choice.
A person is not free to consent if they are submitting to the conduct unwilling because, for example, something bad might happen to them if they refused; if they are being coerced or forced through threats or application of physical or emotional harm; if they are being manipulated or tricked into engaging in sexual activity; or if there is an abuse or exploitation of power, where the person feels that refusal to engage in sexual activity will disadvantage them in any way.
A person does not have the capacity to consent if they are (including but not limited to)
1. Asleep or unconscious
2. Incapacitated due to the consumption (voluntarily or involuntarily) of alcohol or drugs
3. Are too young to consent
4. Have a physical or mental disability which impairs their capacity to choose.
If you think you have been the target of sexual misconduct, assault or harassment, it may be hard to know what to do or how to feel. What happened was not your fault. What you do next is your choice.
You can make a report through this site and we can provide you with the support you need, let you know what your options are, and give you the space to make the choice of what to do next.