Archives: Glossary terms

Gender-based crimes are criminal offences committed against a person because of their gender identity or gender expression. Gender-based crimes can happen between people in intimate relationships, friends, acquaintances, co-workers, and strangers. Anyone can be the victim of a gender-based crime, but girls, women, and gender-diverse people are at a higher risk of gender-based violence.

Voyeurism is when someone looks at or records a person in a private situation, or for a sexual purpose, without them knowing about it or agreeing to it. For example, installing a hidden camera in a person’s bedroom or bathroom, or taking screenshots during an intimate video chat.

Uttering threats is a crime when someone threatens to harm or kill a person or animal, or damage or destroy property.
It can also be a crime to threaten someone to force them to do something, or not do something. This is called extortion.

A private prosecution is when an individual tries to have another person charged with a crime and brought to court. To apply for a private prosecution, the person must have reasonable grounds to believe that someone committed a crime.

A Justice of the Peace (JP) is similar to a judge but a JP is only allowed to make decisions on certain types of court matters, like bail or private prosecutions.

Harassing communications are when someone harasses a person on purpose by repeatedly communicating with them, for example, by phone, text message, or mail.
To harass someone means to behave in a way that repeatedly torments, troubles, or disturbs them. The behaviour often makes them feel intimidated and uncomfortable. Harassing behaviour is more serious than annoying behaviour.

Gender diverse is a broad term to describe people whose gender identity and gender expression are different from the stereotypes of gender in our society. See also transgender.

Forcible confinement is holding someone in a place without their permission. The confinement can be done using physical force. It can also be done using threats or intimidation to get someone to stay. The confinement must last longer than a few minutes for it to be a criminal offence.

An alleged crime is a criminal offence that has not yet been proven in court.

Extortion is using threats or physical force to get a person to do something, or to get something from them, such as money or property. It is still a crime for someone to try to extort another person, even if the extortion doesn’t work.