We would like to thank writer Nina Grossman and the Oak Bay B次元官网网址 for the important article in the July 2 issue, B次元官网网址淪aanich woman says sexual assault was dismissed by police.B次元官网网址�

ItB次元官网网址檚 vital that the public hear these stories in order to realize the prevalence not only of sexual assault but also that of harmful responses by the legal system and police. It took great courage for Ashley to go to the police, and weB次元官网网址檙e appalled at the treatment she received.

The officer on the case failed to recognize the act committed against her as a crime and, indeed, blamed her for its occurrence. Here, law enforcement has not only failed Ashley but will potentially deter others from reporting a crime of sexual assault.

This police officerB次元官网网址檚 conclusion that the assault B次元官网网址渄idnB次元官网网址檛 countB次元官网网址� reveals a widespread societal belief that men are entitled to womenB次元官网网址檚 bodies and that consent is a given unless various conditions are met. One of these conditions is that the women B次元官网网址渇ight back.B次元官网网址�

As University of Victoria law professor Rebecca Johnson states in the article, this belief is B次元官网网址渓egally wrong.B次元官网网址� Furthermore, people who are sexually assaulted often B次元官网网址渇reezeB次元官网网址滲次元官网网址� a third possible response to threat, along with B次元官网网址渇ight or flight.B次元官网网址� Additionally, the police officer in this case decided the word B次元官网网址渘oB次元官网网址� was not enough. What part of B次元官网网址渘oB次元官网网址� is unclear?

Consent to sexual activity is not the default setting, ever. During all stages of a sexual encounter, it is crucial to be certain that each person is a willing participant. Even the lack of the word B次元官网网址渘oB次元官网网址� does not constitute consent. To paraphrase Professor Johnson again, B次元官网网址榠mplied consentB次元官网网址� is not a valid defence to a charge of sexual assault. EveryoneB次元官网网址檚 rights to the integrity of their own bodies trumps the wish of anyone else to have sex. To act contrary to this principle is unethical, deeply harmful B次元官网网址� and illegal.

Janet Millar, Gerry Millar

and Laura Kellough-Pollock

Oak Bay