Any form of sexual misconduct, assault or harassment is never okay.
The University of Kent is committed to providing a safe, respectful and inclusive environment for everyone. If you have experienced sexual misconduct, support is available.
What happened is not your fault, and what you choose to do next is your decision.
We define sexual misconduct as any unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature that happens without consent. It includes violence, abuse, harassment and/or exploitation, regardless of whether it occurs within or outside a relationship.
Sexual misconduct is an umbrella term that can include behaviours such as sexual harassment, sexual assault and other forms of sexual violence.
Sexual Misconduct may be a series of different behaviours, repeated forms of the same unwanted behaviour or a one-off incident and can occur in person, or by letter, telephone, text, email and/or other electronic or social media platforms.
Examples include (but are not limited to):
- Sexual comments, jokes, innuendo or unwanted sexual remarks.
- Unwanted touching or physical contact.
- Sexual activity or sexual intercourse without consent.
- Unwanted requests, pressure or attempts to engage in sexual activity.
- Grooming, coercion, manipulation, threats or offering rewards in exchange for sexual activity.
- Behaviour of a sexual nature that creates (or could create) an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment.
- Sharing or recording intimate images or videos without someone's consent.
- Exposing sexual organs to another person, including online.
- Asking intrusive questions about someone's sex life or discussing your own sexual activity in a way that makes others uncomfortable.
- Making decisions about someone's employment, studies or future opportunities based on whether they accept or reject sexual advances.
- Domestic abuse, including controlling, coercive, threatening or abusive behaviour between current or former partners or family members. This may include psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional abuse.
- Stalking - repeated, unwanted behaviour directed at another person that causes fear, distress or alarm. This may include following someone, repeatedly contacting them, monitoring their activities online or in person, sending unwanted gifts, visiting places they frequent, or using technology to track or monitor them.
- Being complicit in encouraging, assisting or enabling another person to commit sexual misconduct or sexual violence.
- Retaliating against anyone who makes, supports or participates in a report of sexual misconduct, including reporting parties, responding parties or witnesses.
Consent means agreeing to something by choice, and having both the freedom and capacity to make that choice.
Someone can only give consent if they:
- are able to choose freely to say yes without pressure, manipulation, threats or being made to feel scared of the consequences of saying no.
- have physical and mental capacity to make a decision.
- understand what they are saying yes to.
Saying yes once does not mean you have said yes to every time.
Consent can be withdrawn at any time, and a lack of resistance should never be taken for consent.
If you think you have experienced sexual misconduct, assault or harassment, you may be feeling overwhelmed, confused and/or unsure what to do next.
What happened was not your fault.
Whether you choose to tell someone, seek support or make a report, it is entirely your decision. The Specialist Wellbeing team can provide a safe, supportive space to talk, explain the options available to you, and help you access the support you need, regardless of when the incident occurred. You do not have to make a formal report to receive support.
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I think I have experienced sexual misconduct (students)
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