Editing Sexual assault (section)

== Definition ==
Generally, sexual assault is defined as unwanted sexual contact.<ref name="RAINN">{{cite web|url=https://www.rainn.org/articles/sexual-assault|title=Sexual Assault|access-date=11 May 2019|publisher=[[Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network]] |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The National Center for Victims of Crime states:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.victimsofcrime.org/our-programs/dna-resource-center/sexual-assault-kit-backlog-reduction/about-sexual-assault#1 |title=The National Center for Victims of Crime – Library/Document Viewer |publisher=Ncvc.org |access-date=9 December 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120720051156/http://www.victimsofcrime.org/our-programs/dna-resource-center/sexual-assault-kit-backlog-reduction/about-sexual-assault#1 |archive-date=20 July 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

{{Blockquote|Sexual assault takes many forms including attacks such as rape or attempted rape, as well as any unwanted sexual contact or threats. Usually a sexual assault occurs when someone touches any part of another person's body in a sexual way, even through clothes, without that person's consent.}}

In the [[United States]], the definition of sexual assault varies widely among the individual states. However, in most states sexual assault occurs when there is lack of consent from one of the individuals involved. Consent must take place between two adults who are not incapacitated and consent may change, by being withdrawn, at any time during the sexual act.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Huff |first1=Mary |title=The "New" Withdrawal of Consent Standard in Maryland Rape Law: A Year After Baby v. State |journal=The Modern American |date=Fall 2009 |volume=5 |issue=2 |page=14 |url=https://digitalcommons.wcl.american.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1024&context=tma |access-date=16 July 2024}}</ref> Sexual assault can be defined as violation of consent according to standards of [[substantive equality]] or [[Equal opportunity#Formal equality of opportunity|formal equality]].<ref name="r449">{{cite journal | last=Cunliffe | first=Emma | title=Sexual Assault Cases in the Supreme Court of Canada: Losing Sight of Substantive Equality? | journal=Supreme Court Law Review | date=2012 | ssrn=2111652 | url=https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2111652 | access-date=21 July 2024}}</ref>