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Consent

Consent is voluntary, clearly communicated permission to engage in mutually agreed upon sexual activity. Consent is enthusiastic and not coerced, informed and reciprocal, is a clear and informed “yes,” not simply the absence of "no", understandable by all parties, can be withdrawn at any time, cannot be assumed by prior sexual activity or relationship, and is not present when someone is incapacitated (i.e. intoxicated or unconscious).

Interpersonal & Gender-Based Violence

Sexual and gender-based violence violence may include, but is not limited to physical and/or sexual assault or abuse, sexual harassment, stalking, verbal, emotional, financial, and/or reproductive abuse or manipulation. This also includes sexual contact that is compelled through coercion, manipulation, force, threats, intimidation or helplessness. Sexual/gender-based violence is not a miscommunication, misunderstanding or a "mistake". Some examples include, but are not limited to sexual contact that occurs when you are drunk, high, unconscious, or otherwise unable to give clear consent; someone continuing to pressure you for sex, despite your resistance or uncertainty, until you finally give in; a sexual partner removing a condom mid-intercourse without your permission; and/or a partner threatening to harm themselves if you don’t do what they want.

Interpersonal and gender-based violence are experienced and perpetrated across all intersections of identities and relationships. If you have experienced such violence, please know we believe you! What happened was not your fault. You are never responsible for someone else’s choice to harm you. You get to decide what happens next, and the IVS program at CAPS is here to support you in whatever decisions you make moving forward.