Sexual Consent: Do you know what it means?

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has defined sexual violence as using coercion in any setting for any of the following:
A sexual act

Attempt to attain a sexual act
Unwanted sexual comments or advances
Acts of human trafficking
In order to avoid committing any act that is considered as sexual violence, consent is required.

What is consent?

Consent means both partners want and freely choose to have sexual contact. When someone says no, there is no sexual consent and because of this, no sexual activity should occur.

The only way to be sure about consent with a fellow sober adult is to ask them first. This applies to both men and women.

When a person makes comments in the affirmative such as “yes” or “I want to try this” then they are giving consent.

Consent is not a once-off. A person can agree to sexual activity and go ahead to participate but that does not mean consent has been given for future sexual activity whether it is increased or recurrent.
There are many misconceptions about consent and sometimes people make the following incorrect assumptions about consent for sexual activity but for clarification, these are NOT forms of consent:

• Flirting
• Kissing
• Wearing revealing clothes
• Going to the person’s bedroom or inviting them to your bedroom
• Agreeing under threats or intimidation
• Past consent

Can an intoxicated person give consent?

When a person is drunk or intoxicated, they are not in a state to give consent for any sexual activity. Engaging in a sexual act without the other person’s consent is considered sexual assault or rape.

The legal age for consent in Nigeria is 18 therefore, any adult seeking to participate in sexual activity with a young person, anyone under 18 cannot give consent even if they want to do so.

A person can decide to change her/his mind or withdraw their consent if they feel uncomfortable even after the sexual activity begins.

Do you think most people your age understand what sexual consent means? Drop your comment!