Mr. Speaker, May has marked Sexual Violence Awareness Month. With some of the highest rates of sexual violence in the country, it is important that we all work to address this devastating crime that impacts all aspects of life in our territory and crosses socioeconomic lines.
Mr. Speaker, the legal age of consent in Canada is 16 and consent is defined as "a voluntary, mutual, active, and ongoing agreement to engage in a sexual activity." Consent is not the absence of "no" and it is not silent. Consent cannot be given by someone who is intoxicated, unconscious, or otherwise unable to give their agreement. Consent is not possible when one person is in a position of authority or power, or when the sexual activity is exploitative.
When we speak of sexual violence, we must remember that this term encompasses a range of activities and behaviours that we may not necessarily think of as "violent."
Last session I spoke about unwanted social media messages I have received since taking office. These messages made me feel unsafe in my home and I felt violated. It didn’t matter that I had never been physically touched, or even been in the presence of the perpetrator; however, the impacts to my mental health were real. Add in years of unwanted touching and negative comments throughout my career as a woman in engineering, and I find these events very triggering, as I still cope with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, from my time working in northern camps. And I am not alone.
The rates of sexual violence in our territory are staggering and likely underreported. In 2018, 38 percent of women and 18 percent of men experienced unwanted sexual behaviour in a public space. And one in three women and one in six men experience sexual harassment in the workplace. In fact, Mr. Speaker, 11 incidents of sexual assault happen in the NWT every day. Can you imagine how this further contributes to the growing mental health crisis many of our residents face already?
Mr. Speaker, I found a lot of this information on the NWT Status of Women’s social media page, and I commend them on the important work they’re doing to combat sexual and all types of violence in the North.
Tomorrow, May 31st at noon, the council will be hosting "Walk a Mile in Their Shoes" at Sambaa K'e Park. People are encouraged to wear teal, and join the Status of Women Council in their efforts to raise awareness of this important issue that hurts us all.
Thank you, Member for Great Slave. Members' statements. Member for Monfwi.
