If you've been accused of sexual abuse, you should know that this is something of an umbrella term that can refer to many different things. For example, experts note that all of the following could be referred to as sexual abuse:
1. Sexual contact that is unwanted between a pair of adults.
2. That same unwanted contact between a pair of minors.
3. Sexual contact that happens between minors and adults, even if both parties agree to it in advance.
4. Unwanted sexual contact that a minor initiates with an adult.
5. Sexual contact that happens between a pair of minors, even if both claim to agree to it, if they are significantly different in age--for example, someone who is 16 and someone else who is 10.
It's important to see how these things can play out because abuse does not always have to take on traditional forms. For example, it's often assumed that the minor is the victim in a sexual assault case involving an adult, but it is possible for a minor to abuse an unwilling adult.
On top of that, it must be noted that not all sex crimes involve physical contact. This is especially important in the modern era, when these crimes can happen on the Internet. They could include making repeated sexual comments, sending explicit pictures, and the like. Sexual abuse can also take place on the phone or through text messages.
Those who have been accused of sexual abuse in Ontario do have the right to a fair trial, no matter what the circumstances look like or how they fit under this umbrella term.
Source: CSOM, "Fact Sheet: What You Need to Know About Sex Offenders," accessed March 24, 2016
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