Western supports Ontario government’s action plan to eradicate sexual violence and harassment

Western University supports the action plan of the Ontario government, introduced today, to eradicate sexual violence and harassment in all its forms, particularly on university campuses.

“Western applauds the action Premier Wynne is taking to create a culture in which sexual violence and harassment is no longer tolerated,” says Janice Deakin, Provost & Vice-President (Academic). “This is a social issue that demands the attention and involvement of our entire community.”

Introduced in September 2014, Western was among the first Canadian universities to adopt a stand-alone policy on sexual violence. The policy is backed by a definitive procedures guide that illustrates the supports available to Western community members, as well as how incidents of sexual violence are dealt with on campus.

For Western’s Policy on Sexual Violence, please visit https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/policies_procedures/section1/mapp152.pdf

“We have been very active at Western to raise public awareness and establish clear policies on this pernicious issue,” says Deakin. “We have undertaken several initiatives to expand and strengthen the supports available to Western’s students, faculty and staff as we all must play active roles to eradicate sexual violence on our campus.”

Western has a dedicated Sexual Violence Prevention and Education Committee, a working group of the Safe Campus Advisory Partners committee. The committee includes voices from across campus and the greater Western community, including representatives from Campus Community Police Services; Western’s Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children; Communications & Public Affairs; Equity & Human Rights Services; Housing & Ancillary Services; Indigenous Services; School of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies; Student Development Centre; Student Health Services; Western International; as well as graduate, undergraduate students and community partners.

Earlier this week, Western hosted a forum called “Consent & Compassion: Preventing and Responding to Sexual Violence At Western” with keynote speaker Rachel Alicia Griffin, an anti-gender violence advocate and survivor. The event also included a panel discussion featuring on-campus and off-campus support services.

Western has also recently created and shared two videos geared at preventing sexual violence which can be seen here and here.

For more information please visit https://safecampus.uwo.ca/sexual_violence/

MEDIA CONTACT: Keith Marnoch, Director, Media & Community Relations, 519-661-2111, ext. 85468, kmarnoch@uwo.ca

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