You are 11 years old or younger?
Have you been the victim of sexual violence recently or in the past?
Do you feel the need to talk about it and get help? Know that you are not alone and that there are professionals and specialized resources for young people like you.
First, it is essential that you talk to an adult you trust and feel comfortable with. This person could be a professional at school, a friend’s parent or someone in your family, for example. The important thing is that you don’t have to keep this heavy “secret” to yourself. The person you confide in should be able to take steps to ensure that you are supported and safe.
You can also contact CAVAS so that we can help by guiding you in the right direction.
If the situation of sexual violence continues or if you feel unsafe again, there are support resources that can help you.
You are 12 or 13 years old?
Have you been the victim of sexual violence recently or in the past?
Do you feel the need to talk to a counsellor and be listened to? Are you in a difficult situation and wondering whether it involves sexual violence or not?
CAVAS is here for you!
You can receive CAVAS services no matter which gender you identify as! If possible, one of your parents or your guardian can contact CAVAS to request direct assistance services. If this is not possible, you can also contact us directly. A counsellor will then go over the possible services with you, based on your situation and reality.
These meetings will mainly aim to properly address your needs, help you understand your emotions, help you reduce the impacts of sexual violence and listen to you without judging you in any way.
You are between 14 and 17 years old?
Have you been the victim of sexual violence recently or in the past?
Do you feel the need to talk to a counsellor? Are you in a difficult situation and wondering whether it involves sexual violence or not?
CAVAS is here for you!
You can receive CAVAS services no matter which gender you identify as! All you need to do is contact CAVAS in order to apply for direct assistance services. You were no longer required to notify your parents or guardian from the moment you turned 14 years old. It is, of course, recommended that you invite your parents or a close friend to participate in meetings (if the need arises), so that they can provide you with support and guidance, but this is not mandatory.
These meetings will mainly aim to properly address your needs, help you understand your emotions, help you reduce the impacts of sexual violence and listen to you without judging you in any way. During a meeting, the counsellor will be able to explain what steps can be taken if that is what you need. If you have any questions about CAVAS services, you can call or write to us at any time; a counsellor will get back to you quickly. All of our services are also free and confidential. There are also other support resources available to you, if necessary.
CAVAS offers specialized support services to anyone aged 12 and over who has been a victim of sexual violence, as well as to their loved ones.
- woman
- man
- LGBTQ+ individual
- immigrant
- etc.
Did you know?
A person’s clothing or behaviour has nothing to do with sexual violence!
A person’s appearance, clothing or attitude are not the cause of sexual violence. The person who commits sexual violence is solely responsible for their actions by exerting control over the victim.
A guy can also be sexually assaulted!
In fact, 1 in 10 boys report having been the victim of sexual violence before the age of 18.
A person who has consumed alcohol cannot give free and informed consent!
According to the Criminal Code of Canada, sexual intercourse with a person who is asleep, unconscious or intoxicated is considered sexual assault. Sexual consent must be obtained when the person is capable of giving it. Therefore, intoxication or unconsciousness invalidates consent.
Victims do not always hate the person who perpetrated sexual violence against them!
It is incorrect to assume that the victim hates or should hate the person who sexually assaulted them. In cases of incest, the victim may feel caught between the feeling of betrayal and the love they have for the perpetrator. Likewise, the victim may experience ambivalent feelings in a romantic relationship where it is the partner who has committed sexual violence.
Some statistics…
1 in 5 girls and 1 in 10 boys
report having been victims of sexual violence before the age of 18.
Almost 90% of sexual violence among young people
is committed by someone they know, such as a family member, an acquaintance, a friend or an intimate partner.
The age group with the highest proportion of victims of sexual violence
is 15-24 year olds.
Test your knowledge of sexual violence with this quiz.
