Ontario premier Kathleen Wynne has announced a three-year program for Ontario post-secondary schools to combat sexual violence and harassment.
“Sexual violence and harassment are a reality in every community in this province—and that is not acceptable,” said Wynne in the Sexual Violence and Harassment Action Plan (SVHAP) Report.
“Through a variety of initiatives, we will raise public awareness of sexual violence and harassment in Ontario, and challenge societal norms and beliefs,” she said in the report.
The action plan is aimed to strengthen Ontario laws to ensure workplaces are free from sexual violence and harassment, improve safety on school campuses and give survivors of sexual violence a better support system.
In September 2015, all colleges and universities are slated to participate in a province-wide awareness campaign.
New protocols will be implemented, such as each campus having clearly stated complaint procedures and response codes, training and prevention programs, and the introduction of legislation that requires all colleges and universities to adopt a sexual assault policy to be developed with the input of students and re-evaluated every four years.
According to the SVHAP Report, statistics suggest one in three women will experience some form of sexual assault in her lifetime, and there are about 460,000 sexual assaults in Canada each year alone.
“The issue of sexual assault and harassment, be it on campus or not, is systemic,” said Julia Parsons, a first-year political science student at Carleton University. “Abuse of this nature is disproportionately committed against women and members of the LGBTQ+ community.”
Parsons said although she is happy to hear the government is taking action, this is not enough.
“We need to fight the problem at its roots. We need to teach children from a young age. We need to change the way people think,” Parsons said. “The patriarchy and systemic inequality and injustice exist, and we have to stop ignoring that.”
Many universities are behind the premier’s announcement, showing full support and even beginning changes in their own campus initiatives to combat sexual violence.
“We welcomed the premier’s announcement,” said Janice Walls, a spokesperson for York University. “York was one of the first universities in Canada to report occurrences to the community.”
On Feb. 23, York’s board of governors approved a policy on awareness, prevention, and response to sexual assault.
“This policy was developed by a working group of students, faculty, and staff, who took the time to research, assess, consult and develop a policy for York that is comprehensive and can be enacted,” Walls said.
According to Carleton’s media relations officer Chris Cline, Carleton president Roseann Runte has welcomed Wynne’s action plan on sexual assault and commended the Ontario government’s leadership on a critical societal issue.
“Carleton will closely examine the announcement and ensure that the university’s policies, protocols, and reporting mechanisms are in line with provincial guidelines,” Cline said.
