SEXUAL ASSAULT
Sexual assault is any sexual activity without consent. To give consent, a person engaging in sexual activity must be capable of understanding the nature of the act and the motives of the initiator. They must also be physically capable of giving consent and no force, threat, or coercion can be used to gain consent. Colorado law states that if someone has been drinking, they are not physically capable of giving consent. Consent is also an ongoing thing. Just because someone has consented to one instance of sexual activity, does not mean they have consented to everything. A person always has the right to say no and even if they have consented previously, if they later say no then that means there is no consent. If the sexual contact is nonconsensual then it is sexual assault. Sexual assault can happen to anyone, male or female, of any age. A perpetrator could be anyone, but most often is someone that the victim knows, such as an intimate partner, a friend, or an acquaintance. If you have been sexually assaulted, you are encouraged to go immediately to a health care facility and seek medical treatment. If you know of a child who has been sexually (or physically) assaulted, you should report it immediately to law enforcement.
Resources/ Links:
