Consent

Wow! 2000 metre front crawl! - You beat me. 1500 metres. No, Michael! You can’t take a photo in a locker room, full of people getting changed.

Photographing someone who has not given their permission, their consent in their home or in a bathroom or in a changing room is not ok. It is a breach of their privacy. In some countries, it is a crime that can result in a fine or even a prison term. If Michael shares the photo with friends or posts it on social media, he may commit another crime. Sharing a picture of someone's fully or partially naked body without their consent is also a breach of privacy.

And - if the picture shows someone who is a minor, typically 18 years old and under - it can be classified as a child pornography offence in many countries. But consent is about more than just photographs. At its most basic level, consent means that everyone has the right to decide what happens to their own body. Without your consent, no-one is allowed to hug you, kiss you, or have sex with you. If somebody touches your body in a way that doesn't feel right, you can say and show: “Stop.

No”. Then the other person has to listen. How do you know if someone wants to hug or make out? Well, you can ask. Asking is the best way to find out what someone wants.

Still, often in situations when people hug, make out, or have sex, consent is not something that is communicated with words. It's sometimes shown with body language, glances or touch. Even with these kinds of signals, it can be difficult to know exactly what someone is thinking. But it is your responsibility to make sure you know what the person you're with wants. If you are in any doubt what they want, you should ask – and not just once.

Someone may initially have wanted to hug, or kiss, but now they no longer want to. So it’s important to check in often. Is everything ok? If the person wants to stop, you must stop. It’s ok to consent at first, and then no longer consent.

And it’s ok to consent to one thing and not another. There are some situations in which consent cannot be given. The influence of alcohol or drugs can make it much more difficult to read other people's signals. It's easier to misunderstand each other and cross boundaries that you might not cross sober. So having sex with someone who is not sober enough to consent is illegal.

It is classified as sexual assault or rape. For that you can be sentenced to prison. If you, or someone you know, has experienced a situation similar to those described in the film, it is important that you tell an adult you trust. Delete the photo! The only person with the right to say what happens to your body is you.

Consent needs to be enthusiastic, freely given, and ongoing.