Anonymous Survey on Sexual Assault

Consent to Participate in This Anonymous Survey on Sexual Assault

Purpose of the Survey: We are conducting this anonymous survey to better understand the circumstances surrounding sexual assault in our community, including when and where these incidents occur, and whether individuals are accessing support services. The data we collect will help us improve the services we provide and advocate for necessary changes to prevent sexual assault and better support survivors. The data collected will be used for community education, workshops/training and informative materials like posters and social media posts.

Confidentiality and Anonymity: Your responses will remain completely anonymous. No personally identifiable information will be collected, and your IP address will be hidden. All data will be aggregated (collected and assessed), and your individual responses will not be linked to you in any way.

Voluntary Participation: Your participation in this survey is entirely voluntary. You may choose to skip any questions or discontinue the survey at any time without any consequences. Your decision to participate, or not, will not affect your access to any services provided by the Fernie Women’s Resource Centre

Data Sharing: By participating in this survey, you consent to the aggregated data being shared publicly on our website and with other stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers, and community partners, for the purpose of advocacy and enhancing sexual assault prevention and support programs. Your individual responses will remain confidential, and only de-identified data will be shared.

Data Storage: Survey data will be stored on Canadian servers through the Fernie Women’s Resource Centre’s website with hidden IP addresses. Once we aggregate the data we will remove and destroy it from our servers. There will be no way for us to re-access the data once it is destroyed.

Risks and Benefits: There are risks associated with participating in this survey, as some questions may be emotionally challenging or distressing. If you feel overwhelmed at any point, please know that you can skip questions or end the survey. We encourage you to reach out to our support services if you need assistance.

By participating, you are contributing to important data that will help shape better services and policies for survivors of sexual assault.

Consent: By continuing with this survey, you acknowledge that you have read and understood the information above and voluntarily agree to participate. You also consent to the sharing of aggregated data as described.

If you have any questions about the survey or your rights as a participant, please contact Nicky at info@ferniewomenscentre.com

Definitions

Sexual Assault:

  • Sexual assault is any sexual contact that you did not agree to. This includes any unwanted touching, forced kissing and forced sex.
  • Sexual assault can happen anywhere including at work, at school, on public transit and while out in your community.
  • Sexual assault can happen in relationships. It is still sexual assault if the person who assaulted you was your husband/wife/spouse, partner, boyfriend/girlfriend or friend.
  • Any sexual activity that is preformed under coercion, manipulation, intimidation or threat of safety is sexual assault.

    • Coercion
      • Coercion is when someone is pressured, guilted, or manipulated into sexual activity. It can involve persistent begging, threats to the relationship, or making someone feel like they have no choice but to comply.
      • Example: A partner repeatedly pressures someone to have sex by saying, “If you really loved me, you would do this,” or sulking and making them feel guilty until they give in.
    • Manipulation
      • Manipulation involves using deceptive tactics or exploiting someone’s emotions, trust, or vulnerabilities to get them to engage in sexual activity.
      • Example: Someone lies about using protection or pretends to be upset or in crisis to make the other person feel obligated to engage in sex.
    • Intimidation
      • Intimidation is when someone uses their power, status, or an implied threat to make another person feel unsafe saying no.
      • Example: A boss suggests that an employee’s job could be at risk if they don’t comply with sexual advances.

Consent:

  • Consent is an agreement between participants to engage in sexual activity.
  • Consent cannot be given by individuals who are underage, intoxicated, incapacitated, asleep or unconscious.
  • Consent is enthusiastic. It can be revoked at anytime.
  • You have the right to sexual contact that you freely agree to.
  • No one has the right to touch you without your consent.

Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault:

  • Using substances that alters ones level of consciousness and / or physical ability to resist or fight back.
  • Causing someone to ingest something without their awareness is called ‘drink-spiking’, ‘spiking,’ or non-consensual dosing.
  • Substances used include: alcohol, GHB, ketamine, opiates, edible / liquid cannabis products, over the counter medication such as Gravol, Benadryl, sleep aids, as well as any prescription medication with a sedative effect. Alcohol is the most commonly used drug in DFSA and attempted DFSA.

Dosing people with substances without their awareness and permission is a consent violation, even without any attempt at sexual contact. Just because someone consents to ingest one type of substance does not mean they consented to anything else.

Forensic examination:

An examination that is completed in the emergency department by a specially trained SAFE examiner, or with support of an expert examiner by telehealth. “Forensic” means something relates to courts of law. A “forensic examination” means that evidence may be collected, or information documented by the RCMP to be used in a court case.

Delayed Forensic Reporting:

If you are unsure whether you want RCMP involvement or want to report in the future but now is not the right time, then you have the option of delayed reporting. A forensic examination kit can be completed and securely stored at the hospital for up to a year, without RCMP having any knowledge about it. After a year, the samples taken will be destroyed.

Medical Treatment:

Treatment for any injuries after someone sexually assaults you. This could include treatment of STI’s, emergency contraceptives, and/or treat any injuries.

Third Party Report:

  • A Third-Party Report allows victims who do not want to report directly to police the ability to ensure police receive a report about the crime. First, you tell a community-based victim service program the details of the crime. The program is the third party. They work with police without giving them your personal information. Once the third-party files the report on your behalf, police evaluate the facts, and may take other actions that are appropriate, such as patrolling the area where the crime occurred.
  • This way of reporting protects your identity and also allows police to get information they need.  For example, if police learn additional details about the crime through their investigation, such as the name of the offender, or if other victims have come forward, the third party can act as a go-between for police to get information from you. It is your decision whether or not to work directly with police.
  • Only victim service workers in community-based victim service programs can file third party reports. The Women’s Resource Centre can provide this service.
  • There are certain instances where you are not eligible to do a third party report. Some examples of situations that can’t do third party reporting are:
    • When sexual assault occurs in an intimate partner relationship (husbands, wives, spouses, boyfriends, girlfriends, partners etc)When sexual assault occurs outside of the age of consent (someone more than 2 years older assaulting someone else under 16)Someone in authority assaulting someone they have power over (teachers, doctors, coaches, etc)
    • If the person committing sexual assault is a police officer

Sites and Sources:

Thank you for agreeing to participate in our survey. Please refer to the consent form above for more information. it’s important to note that filling out this survey does not count as any kind of reporting for an investigation including third party reports. If you would like to learn more about your reporting options, please contact the Sexual Assault Services Coordinator at 250-423-4687.

The questions in this survey will be asking you about your experience with sexual assault. Please take care while filling it out and stop whenever you need to.

I Agree to Participate