First, let's explore what reversibility of consent means, specifically in terms of sexual interactions, and then unpack its meaning and application to the scenario and argument above.
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Reversible consent means that it can be withdrawn at any time during the interaction. The most basic example of this would be that while two people are kissing, one pulls away or says stop, this person has reversed or removed their consent. A continuation of the behaviour after that point would be without consent. 

Consent is not a promise. Just because someone consented and started engaging in something, does not mean they are obligated to continue. Any party can change their minds. 

The emphasis here is that the removal is during the encounter. In a situation where two people have consensual sex, then as in our situation above, one ‘removes’ their consent and says it was assault, this would be wrong. Reversible consent does not mean that after you have consented and an action has been completed, that people can change the narrative of whether they provided consent or not.

False Reports 
If someone had a truly consensual interaction and then changed their opinion of that person or wanted revenge, and lied saying it wasn’t consensual, they are in the wrong. However, this is often just a narrative used to perpetuate the myth that survivors falsely accuse others of assault. Particularly that women choose to accuse men of assault because they are upset with or regret an interaction. This is a misrepresentation of false reports.

In Canada, false sexual assault reports are extremely rare, accounting for only 2-4% of reports. The rate of false reports for sexual assault is actually lower than that of other crimes. Beliefs around false allegations and misunderstandings of consent create harmful narratives leading to not believing survivors and people who come forward. 

The statistics show that not only are false reports extremely rare, but the reports that do happen don't actually represent all assaults that occur. This means that there are way more sexual assaults happening than are ever officially reported. People may feel like they need to 'remain neutral', or even give the alleged perpetrator the benefit of the doubt, but statistically it's most likely that the survivor is telling the truth. We should always believe survivors. 

Consent Scenario  
A couple is winding down for the evening. M makes physical advances on B by touching their back and kissing their neck. B does not respond in an engaged way, brushes it off and goes to shower. When they get into bed afterwards, M is naked waiting for them and tries to initiate physical contact again. B brushes it off again and says they are not in the mood. M tries to encourage them, saying things like come on we'll be quick, I've been thinking about you all day. B gives in and they have sex. 

In a relationship where physical affection is commonly given and accepted, something called meta consent or default consent is established. The initial contact or invitation M extended was within that context. However, behaviour after B declined and said no, is not consensual. Even with meta consent in place, the FRIES model still applies. While some situations do require a nuanced understanding of consent, purposeful ignorance or disregard of changes in engagement or desires is predatory and harmful behaviour.  ​

B had no opportunity to reverse consent as it was never truly given. Any situation where someone is manipulated, coerced, asked repeatedly, their physical cues (such as not kissing back, or moving away) and words are ignored until someone ‘gives in’ is not consent. 
 
This situation actually echoes many people's experiences with sexual assault and the repercussions of these situations. Many survivors do not fully come to terms with something being an assault until the situation is progressing or has finished. It can take days, weeks, or even years to recognize and acknowledge that their experience was sexual assault or rape. ​

This can be for a variety of reasons, including a misunderstanding of authentic consent. If someone, like B, does not know that coercion is not consent, they may feel wrong about the situation but not understand why or try to convince themselves that it was okay. Survivors may also not realize due to the shock or trauma of the situation, which can impact thoughts and memories. One's connection or relationship to the perpetrator may also affect the ability to recognize assault. Considering the situation above. M and B are in a relationship. They may have been dating for a while and even have their relationship return to normal after this encounter. In this situation, B may not label it as assault initially. They may downplay it to a misunderstanding, tell themselves it wasn’t assault because they have love for that person, or even blame themselves. 

The 'Rape Script' and Victim-Blaming​
Another reason why someone may struggle to identify an assault is called the ‘Rape Script’. This is a script that people use to identify what sexual assault “looks like”, and if a situation does not align with that script, there is doubt. The most common script is that a person is physically attacked, perhaps with a weapon involved, walking alone at night. In scenarios where this isn’t the case, it is harder for people to recognize assault. 
 
This is sometimes the case for the survivors themselves, but also individuals hearing about assaults. When people hear scenarios such as the one above with M and B, they may not view it as assault because the perpetrator wasn’t a stranger, or because they ‘loved’ them, or because they didn’t use physical violence. Furthermore, the idea that something is only assault when the survivor has physically fought, screamed, or tried to escape is false and ignores trauma responses and the danger of these situations. There are many reasons someone might ‘give in’ or not physically resist an assault, such as shock, fear, shame, or power imbalances. 

Ultimately, this perspective is based in victim-blaming ideologies, where the tendency may be to wonder why the survivor didn't do more to stop or escape, when the real question should be how many signs of resistance did the perpetrator choose to ignore. This is why consent contains all the FRIES components; they all must exist for something to be truly consensual. While someone might be informed on what is happening, such as B, they may have been coerced or not truly engaged. 

In Summary
When someone decides that something is non-consensual after consent was given, that is dishonest and NOT what reversible consent means.  Reversible consent means that consent can be withdrawn during an interaction, where consent existed, to stop further unwanted action from happening. 

Returning to the first situation, someone ‘withdrawing’ consent that was previously given, after an encounter, to falsely say it was rape is wrong and not what reversible consent means. This is a purposeful misrepresentation of the reversibility of consent, which only means that at any point in an encounter someone can withdraw consent to stop more from continuing. 

Situations where someone realizes that something was assault or not consensual is not solely about the ‘reversibility’ in FRIES. Rather, that is a situation where consent was not fully given initially. Regardless of which aspect of FRIES was not included, it was not consensual.  
Consent can’t be achieved without all of FRIES. It must be freely given, reversible, informed, engaged and specific. If an interaction is missing one of these aspects, it is not consensual.

​While this article has focused on sexual interactions, we can use the same principles to build a culture of consent in our daily interactions. Imagine that someone asks to borrow your phone to make a call. You can ask for it back. They shouldn't be doing anything else other than making that call. And you shouldn't feel pressured to let them borrow it if you don't really want to.

If you have questions or need support, never hesitate to reach out to us. 

Support is always available. Please call (519) 741-8633 to access our 24-Hour Support Line. You can also text (519) 741-8633 or use the chat function on sascwr.org to access support between 8:00 AM and midnight, 7-days a week.

For more information on sexual assault, false reporting, or other aspects of FRIES, check out these resources: 

https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/services/benefits-military/conflict-misconduct/sexual-misconduct/training-educational-materials/myths-facts.html   
https://svpro.mcmaster.ca/prevention/learning-hub/consent/  
https://thedragonflycentre.com/consent/consent-is-as-easy-as-fries/  
https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/jr/jr14/p9.html  

By Dani Tobert

Suppose you ask a group of people what the signs of someone experiencing Human Trafficking are. In that case, they may say it looks like a person suddenly withdrawing from their friends and family or disappearing at night for several hours. Although these two concepts are a good start, they do not cover the full scope of what Human Trafficking can look like, nor are they an exhaustive list.

For most people, the signs of Human Trafficking are difficult to describe; this difficulty increases if they are asked to differentiate between the increased risk of exploitation and exploitation. If we want to understand Human Trafficking better, this difficulty needs to be addressed.

Sex Trafficking is a type of Human Trafficking that falls under the umbrella of sexual exploitation. To help folks identify what Sex Trafficking can look like, this article will unpack some of the signs.

This article will also explain how you can begin to address a possible situation of Sex Trafficking with a trauma-informed approach. If we can better understand what Sex Trafficking can look like and how to respond to it, we will be better equipped to tackle it and implement preventative measures.

Before we explore the signs of Sex Trafficking, a vital difference must be named: sex work and Sex Trafficking are NOT the same things. The main difference is choice and consent.
It is legal in Canada for consenting adults aged 18+ to sell sexual services. Treating sex work and Sex Trafficking the same does an immense amount of harm to not only sex workers but also the movement to end Sex Trafficking.
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In addition, looking for signs requires the recognition of a pattern of multiple drastic changes in behaviours, not just one behaviour.
 
For family and friends, the following are signs to observe:

• Withdrawal from friends, family, school, or support network
• Increased absences from home without any notice
• Attendance at school, work, or social activities become poor
• Has a new partner but will not introduce them or give any information about them
• Unexplained articles of clothing, accessories, and electronics that are out of reach for them financially (I.e., a brand-new phone)
• Works odd hours at 'a job' they do not want to talk about (I.e., 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.)
• Shows signs of injuries and physical abuse
• Frequent untreated/treated STIs
• Significant changes in behaviour, personality, and hygiene habits
• Possesses a large number of condoms, lube, and lingerie
• Although it is becoming less common, tattoos and/or branding on the body

 
For support workers, the following signs may be observed:

• Cannot attend appointments alone or are often accompanied by someone who speaks on their behalf
• Calls in with someone else on the phone or asking questions on their behalf
• Often deters to another person prior to answering any questions
• Avoids eye contact, social interactions, and authority figures
• Lacks official identification documents and/or any personal possessions
• Works excessively long hours or hours that are unusual for their age
• Frequently checks into hotels/motels or shares that they are staying there as their current method of housing
• Calling panicked and requesting funding without a reason
• Uses street slang, such as "game," "telly party," "daddy", "john," or "stable."
• Frequently leaves and travels between regions.
• If they leave the region, they cannot provide information about where they are going or how long.

​Now that you know a bit more about Sex Trafficking, it is time to learn how to respond to what you suspect is a sexually exploitative situation. When you notice a pattern of drastic changes in behaviour, the first action is to recognize when you need support.

Contact SASC’s Anti-Human Trafficking Program
When the person you're worried about displays signs or tells you about being exploited, SASC's Anti-Human Trafficking program is here to provide support through services like a risk assessment and direct 1-1 consultation. If you suspect someone you know is experiencing sexual exploitation, please get in touch with SASC at 519-571-0121 ext. 111 or email [email protected] from Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To learn more about SASC's Anti-Human Trafficking Program, click HERE.
 
Utilize a trauma-informed approach
After recognizing when you need support and reaching out to programs like SASC's Anti-Human Trafficking Program for help, engaging with the person using a trauma-informed approach is essential. This approach recognizes trauma's impact on a person instead of blaming them for what has occurred.
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People experiencing sexual exploitation may have feelings of shame surrounding what they have been forced to do; therefore, if you ask a person if something is happening and they disclose to you that they are experiencing Sex Trafficking, do NOT blame them. Instead, remain calm, thank them for trusting you with their story, help them meet their immediate needs (i.e., providing them with a meal, bus tickets, and access to water), and give them space to talk. Furthermore, if they identify that they have been in an exploitative situation, ask them how they would like you to name it (I.e., "I was exploited") and match your wording with theirs. Practice active listening, empathy, and be mindful of your body language.
 
Offer other supports and resources
Finally, once you and the person have spoken about what has happened to them, ask them if they would like to be connected to appropriate resources to receive support. SASC's Anti-Human Trafficking program has resources that directly support survivors of Sex Trafficking to leave and/or heal from their exploitative situation, which is shared during our work with community members.

If you want other support, contact Victim Services of Waterloo Region at 519-570-5143 or The Canadian National Human Trafficking Hotline's phone or online chat function that operates 24/7 under 1-833-900-1010. If the person is not interested in connecting with appropriate resources, do not pressure them. They have had their autonomy taken away by a trafficker and do not need you to treat them similarly. Through patience and compassion with the person, progress can be made.

Winter is here and with it comes many holidays and gatherings. While this may bring joy and excitement, it can also create situations that prompt anxiety, depression, and grief, especially for survivors of sexual violence.​

November 20th is International Transgender Day of Remembrance. This day is dedicated to remembering and honouring the trans people whose lives have been lost to transphobic violence. 
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As a genderfluid and transmasculine person, this day is particularly important to me. I have been a part of queer and trans communities for most of my youth and adult life, and I personally know (and fiercely love) many trans folks who have been physically abused or sexually assaulted because of their trans identities. I am fortunate that all of my trans friends are still alive, but we are among the lucky ones who have had each other to lean on for support and have carved out little spots in this world where we can belong. 

Since it started on April 11, 2022, the defamation lawsuit filed against Amber Heard by her ex-husband Johnny Depp has saturated mainstream news outlets and social media pages, with an outpouring of support being given to Depp and a disturbing amount of abuse being directed towards Heard as the trial drags on in the public spotlight. We want to take this chance to unpack what has been happening in the media surrounding the trial and its impact on our work here at SASC.  ​