You’d think the start of the week would be a quiet time. Not for us - our clinics and website are flat out on a Monday and Tuesday.

“The early part of the week is when women come to clinics or check out the website looking for the emergency contraceptive pill (ECP). They’ve had unprotected sex over the weekend – or they think they might have - and need to take the ECP within 72 hours to prevent pregnancy or talk about STI risk,” says our chief executive Jackie Edmond.

“Sexual violence or alcohol is often the reason for the visit and we know that far too often, the unprotected sex wasn’t actually consensual,” says Jackie.

“We’d like people to be having the kind of sex they want - not being pressured or forced into doing anything they don't want to do.”

What do we know about sexual violence?

• Estimates are that one in four women and one in eight men in New Zealand will experience sexual violence during their lives.
• The risk is higher in your teens and early 20s.
• Most of the time you’ll know your attacker.

We are supporting AreYouThatSome1, a campaign (check it out on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram) to activate tertiary students to be someone who sees the signs, speaks up and steps in safely to prevent things going pear-shaped.

What can we do about sexual violence?

Newsflash: there are steps before sexual assaults where someone – mates, strangers, bar staff, flatmates or whoever – noticed something dodgy was going on and had the chance to intervene.

Are YOU that someone?

Four ideas for things you could do:

• Check in – Ask the person at risk if they’re OK with what’s going on. 
• Call it as you see it – Tell them what they’re doing is not OK. 
• Get involved – If you can do it safely, cause a distraction or split ‘em up. 
• Get help – Grab your mates or others to join you in speaking up.

If a situation is escalating and it’s not safe, find someone in charge (bar tender, bouncer, campus security) or call the police on 111. Always keep yourself safe.

AreYouThatSome1 is also about challenging pages like Roastbusters and the Rack Appreciation Society, and actions like wolf-whistles, rape jokes, victim blaming and myths like “sexual assault only happens to women”.

Rape culture gives sexual assault a cover story – and stops people from reporting it.

So Are YOU that someone to take action? Clue: the right answer is “yes”.

Need help?

As well as contacting us, there is heaps of advice and info on the SexnRespect website.

You can also find other services near you on these websites:

• Rape Prevention Education
• Te Ohaakii a Hine – National Network Ending Sexual Violence Together