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What is consent?

Consent occurs when individuals willingly, unambiguously and knowingly agree to engage in sexual activity in a clear and affirmatively communicated way that is understood by all of the parties involved. Consent is active not passive. Signals of consent must be part of a mutual and ongoing process, offered freely and knowingly. Consent can be given by words or actions as long as those words or actions create clear, mutually understandable permission regarding the conditions of sexual activity. Relying solely on non-verbal communication can lead to misunderstandings and harmful consequences for all of the parties involved because this form of communication may be unclear. Individuals should be able to clearly articulate why and how they knew that they had received consent and what they considered to be indications of consent before they engaged in sexual activity.