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Sexual Violence

Expires: April 30, 20232028

 

1. Definitions1

  1. SEXUAL VIOLENCE : Sexual violence is any sexual act, act of a sexual nature, or act targeting sexuality, physical or psychological, that is committed without consent.
    1. It includes, but is not limited to: Sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, indecent exposure, voyeurism, distribution of intimate images. Sexual violence also includes inducing intoxication, impairment, or incapacity for the purpose of making another person vulnerable to non-consensual sexual activity, and other analogous conduct.
  2. CONSENT : Consent is a voluntary, ongoing, active and conscious agreement to engage in the sexual activity in question. It’s the first step in any physical intimacy, and it is a must from all participants.
  3. SURVIVOR : Refers to the individual who has experienced an unwanted sexual act. The word “victim” is more commonly used in legal proceedings and criminal investigations, the word “survivor” is the more common term used by supporters and allies.
  4. SUPPORT : Support for survivors of sexual violence can take many forms - at the most basic level it involves being a compassionate, empathetic listener. Hearing what they have to say, do not interrupt, and let them indicate what they would like to do or not do.
    1. Should a survivor want further assistance, let them know about the services that are available to provide further supports. These supports can focus on physical, mental, spiritual, and social well being. They can also provide assistance with modifications which may focus on academic success and/or safety planning.

12. Facts

  1. Sexual violence impacts University of Alberta students.
  2. PeopleSexual Violence can affect individuals of all demographicsgender areidentities, atgender riskexpressions, ofand sexual violence.orientations, as well as those from all ages, abilities, racial, cultural, and economic backgrounds.2
  3. On a national average, some demographics of people experience disproportionately high rates of sexual violence. These groups include women, LGBTQ2SIA+2SLGBTQIA+3 people, people of colour, Indigenous people, immigrants and newcomers to Canada, and people with disabilities[1].
    1. Indigenous women, children and Two-Spirit people are almost three times as likely to experience sexual violence than non-Indigenous women[2].
    2. The racialized and gendered violence that is faced by Indigenous women, children, and Two-Spirit people is a direct result of ongoing colonialism in Canada[3].
  4. Demographics of people who experience higher rates of sexual violence often encounter unwanted sexual attention while on University property, such as at University gym facilities and residences.
  5. 90-95% of survivors who come to the University of Alberta Sexual Assault Centre are sexually assaulted by someone they know.4
  6. Research shows that the majority of Canadians do not have a clear understanding of sexual consent.
  7. Alcohol and/or substance consumption is often used as an illegitimate excuse to justify acts of sexual violence.
  8. Sexual violence can have severe mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical impacts onon; survivors
      and
    1. Survivors
      2. their
    2. Communities.
      3. communities.
  9. While societies are beginning to adapt, contemporary societies still accept myths and stereotypes about sexual violence. Furthermore, common attitudes, norms, and practices often tolerate, normalize, excuse, or condone sexual violence.
    1. Rigid conceptions of gender binary and gender roles in which masculine traits are privileged and feminine traits marginalized contribute to genderbased violence.5
  10. Students are primary stakeholders inon theour prevention of campus sexual violencecampuses and must be adequately consulted when the University makes decisions on sexual violence prevention and process management.
  11. Information on howoptions tofor report instancessurvivors of sexual and gender-based violence should be provided in plain language, and more readily available to students, faculty, and staff.
  12. Not all survivors choose to report an instance of sexual violence or move forward with any sort of formal process. The way a survivor chooses to proceed is at their discretion, and a variety of supports should always be presented with all options available to themthem.
    13. regardless
  13. Not all survivors choose to disclose an instance of theirsexual decision.violence or seek support due to systemic barriers put in place.
  14. The University of Alberta hired a new Sexual Violence Response Coordinator under the Provost’s Office. This hiring was possible through partial funding provided by the Mandatory Non-Instructional Fee.6
  15. The University of Alberta conducted an internal Sexual Violence Audit. The audit was exclusively focused on the effectiveness of the university’s policies and procedures for complaints of sexual violence and harassment, as well as the effectiveness of sexual violence and harassment prevention systems and resources.7

23. Resolutions

  1. The Students’ Union will advocate that the University of Alberta createreviews anthe intersectional,Sexual comprehensive,and survivor-centredGender institutionalBased policyViolence onPolicy sexualevery violence.fives years ;
    1. Or when necessary to necessary to ensure that it reflects best and promising practices
  2. The Students’ Union will advocate that the University of Alberta thoroughly consult students, including the Students’ Union, when changes are being made regarding University policy on sexual violence.
  3. The Students’ Union will advocate that the University of Alberta specifically consult interest groups of individuals who are disproportionately affected by sexual violence when making decisions surrounding campus sexual violence. Not limited but includes ;
    1. Indigenous students
    2. 2SLGBTQ+ students
    3. International students
  4. The Students’ Union will advocate that the University of Alberta be transparent in releasing periodical and timely information and statistics about campus sexual violence.
  5. The Students’ Union will advocate that the University of Alberta make information on how to report instances of sexual violenceviolence, plain language, easily accessible and widely distributed across University of Alberta campuses, including but not limited to residences, gyms, sororities, and fraternities.
  6. The Students’ Union will advocate that the Government of Alberta provides sufficient funding to improve ;
    1. Sexual assault support services across all campuses
    2. SGBV Prevention training and programming
    3. Non-disciplinary accountability options
  7. The Students’ Union will advocate that the University of Alberta provides sufficient funding to improve sexual assault support services across campuses.
  8. The Students’ Union will advocate that the University of Alberta respectfollows the differenceSGBV between a disclosure of sexual violencePolicy and aprovide formalstudents complaint.all options available to them through the Options Navigation Network.
  9. The Students’ Union will advocate that the University of Alberta continues to provide mental and physical support to students regardless of whether or not the survivor chooses to report.
  10. The Students’ Union will advocate that the University of Alberta provideprovides academicappropriate andmodifications housingwhen accommodationnecessary to studentsensure regardlessthe safety of whethertheir orlearning not the survivor chooses to report.environment.
  11. The Students’ Union will advocate that the Options Navigation Network University of Alberta provide guidance to students who choose to report throughout the entire reporting process.
  12. The Students’ Union will advocate that the University of Alberta creates programming which educates students, staff, and faculty on conduct that could be considered unwanted sexual attention, including users of gym facilities.
  13. The Students’ Union will advocate that Residence Services develop a frameworkcontinues to preventdevelop courses and manageprogramming instancesthat ofcentre sexualconsent violenceand inhealthy residences.relationships.
  14. The Students’ Union will advocate that the University of Alberta educates the student body on alcohol and its potential to be used as a tool to commit acts of sexual violence.
  15. The Students’ Union will advocate that the University of Alberta provides restorativenon-disciplinary justiceaccountability as an optionoptions on a case-by-case basis with the fully informed consent of the survivor.
  16. The Students’ Union will advocate for the permanent hiring of the Sexual AssaultViolence Response andCoordinator.
    17. Implementation
  17. The Coordinator,Students’ Union will advocate that the University of Alberta hires a dedicated french speaking counselor or equivalent.equivalent for students at Campus Saint-Jean. 
  18. The Students’ Union will advocate for the University of Alberta to make all relevant resources available in French.
  19. The Students’ Union will advocate for the University of Alberta to address persistent problems with the Association of Academic Staff of the University of Alberta (AASUA) collective agreement to ensure procedural fairness.
  20. The Students’ Union will advocate that the University of Alberta works with AASUA to reform collective agreement sections that erase disciplinary records after two years.

  21. The Students’ Union will advocate for the University of Alberta to enforce ethical standards for relationships and sexual interactions between faculty and students, particularly their own students, respecting the impact of power differential on consent.

  22. The Students’ Union will advocate for the University of Alberta to implement all recommendations set out in the 2022 Sexual Violence Audit Report


CiteConsultation error:Pathways <ref> tags exist, but no <references/> tag was found

  1. Sexual violence Response Coordinator
  2. COFA - MSWG
  3. ISU
  4. CORA

4. References

  1. https://www.ualberta.ca/campus-life/sexual-violence/education/talk-the-talk.html#consent
  2. Ibid. 
  3. https://www.becomingeducation.ca/why2slgbtq#:~:text=2S%20stands%20for%20Two%2DSpirit,belongs%20solely%20to%20Indigenous%20people.
  4. https://www.ualberta.ca/current-students/sexual-assault-centre/understanding-sexual-assault.html
  5. https://policiesonline.ualberta.ca/PoliciesProcedures/Policies/Sexual-Violence-Policy.pdf
  6. https://www.ualberta.ca/the-quad/2022/04/an-update-from-the-u-of-a-sexual-violence-response-coordinator.html
  7. https://www.ualberta.ca/provost/policies-and-procedures/sexual-gender-based-violence-policy/sexual-viol
    ence-management-audit-report.html
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