Consent is described as: permission for something to happen or agreement to do something.Consent is a vital part of creating a culture and community in which everyone feels safe and comfortable to live in.
Silence does not permit consent. It is clearly communicated, not negotiated.
An unconscious or intoxicated person under the influence of drugs or alcohol who is unable to knowingly consent cannot legally agree to sexual activity.
Past consent does not guarantee future consent.
A person has every right to change their mind at any point in time, because consent is ongoing.
Finally, even if you're in a long term marriage, consent is still vital.
About to sit down and read this piece by @stylistmagazine on Rape Warfare. It's great to hear the survivors being given a voice by @mukwegefoundation as their voices are often lost in the midst of global politics.
When doing my MSc in War and Psychiatry I focused on rape being used as a weapon of war.
The key objective of this tactic is to cause trauma and consequently destroy communities and group solidarity. Apart from causing humiliation to the enemies, asserting power and retaliation, rape during warfare can also become an essential feature of ethnic cleansing. Social and moral order collapses during periods of war particularly as the threat of punishment diminishes. As a consequence not only combatants but also the local population can take advantage of this and rape the innocent and vulnerable.
Whether this is sexual gratification, troop moral or power. Rape is an instrument that can be utilised to destroy lives and gain control, leaving the survivors traumatised and scarred.
The level of trauma that these women (and some men) face is harrowing; many are impregnated, held captive, mutilated and some disowned by their families.
Go to www.mukwegefoundation.org.
To learn how you can help further.
If you are unsure what defines consent here is an outline from the Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Centre: "Consent is when someone agrees, gives permission, or says "yes" to sexual activity with other persons. Consent is always freely given and all people in a sexual situation must feel that they are able to say "yes" or "no" or stop the sexual activity at any point." 1.When you’re engaging in sexual activity, consent is about communication. And it should happen EVERY time.
2. consent for one activity, one time, does not mean giving consent for increased or recurring sexual contact.
3. Sexual assault can happen in marriages not just one night stands.
4. Finally remember you can withdraw consent if you no longer feel comfortable.
Remember sex without consent isn't sex.
Reading the piece in the @nytimes with Uma Thurman today I was really struck by one of the final paragraphs.
When you tell your child that they were harmed because another person likes them, you’re connecting pain with love. That not only normalizes being abused, but also abusing others.
This then perpetuates further into adult relationships and normalises cruelty and unkindness from partners. If love is patient, kind, understanding, and compassionate, then surely love is not cruel, mean and violent?
