Police, and a number of other organizations, as part of the Sexual Assault Voices of Edmonton (SAVEdmonton) launched a campaign Wednesday meant to stop teens from sharing intimate photos without consent, a disturbing trend that’s growing amongst youth.
The campaign, with the slogan “Without consent, it’s not sent”, includes a series of posters, meant to educate the public on consent and technology – that sharing an intimate photo of someone without their consent is against the law.
“We see countless youth impacted by this in very negative ways, that youth experience tones of victim blaming, harassment, shaming,” Stephanie Olsen with the Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton said.
The Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton, along with the Edmonton Police Service, Responsible Hospitality Edmonton, the University of Alberta Sexual Assault Centre and the Canadian Red Cross make up SAVEdmonton, the society behind the new campaign.
Earlier this year, the federal government passed Bill C-13, a cyber bullying law that made the act of sharing photos without consent illegal, but one local school resource officer said still takes a lot of time.
“If we can remind them it is against the law to make, to possess or to distribute these types of images this is a wakeup call for many of them,” Sgt. Em Chan said.
The posters created as part of the campaign will be posted on public transit, at bars and restaurants, and in schools.
With files from Ashley Molnar
