Sixteen days of activism against gender-based violence began today with the launch of the Purple Ribbon Campaign.
It’s a campaign by the United Nations with a global theme to unite activism to end violence against women and girls.
The corresponding flag is flying at Confederation Building to mark the awareness effort.
The Canadian Women’s Foundation has just released a new survey showing that less than half of people fully understand the concept of consent in sexual activity.
Andrea Gunraj, VP of Public Engagement with the foundation, says not only does consent have to be something positive and include things like saying ‘yes,’ with enthusiastic participation, but it has to be ongoing throughout the sexual activity.
She says the majority of respondents did not seem to be aware of the full scope of consent.
Forty-five per cent of respondents said they would need both indicators but 55 per cent didn’t say both indicators. Gunraj says it shows that people don’t necessarily understand all the elements of what consent needs to be.