
News
No One is Disposable: Resources for Working with People who have Caused Harm
Divesting from punitive approaches and working productively with people who have caused harm are necessary components of a survivor-centered approach to addressing campus gender-based violence. We've gathered Courage to Act's resources that can help guide you in moving away from traditional carceral approaches to this work here.
Équité des genres : les opportunités de formation continue à ne pas manquer
Vous trouverez dans cet article différents événements, colloques et conférences vous permettant de vous perfectionner en tant que professionnel.le qui travaille dans le milieu des violences genrées et sexuelles. Ces événements sont tous offerts en français.
Questions simples aux réponses compliquées – Partie 7
Deb Eerkes nous propose la septième partie de la série Questions simples aux réponses compliquées. Dans ce tome fraîchement traduit en français, elle examine comment la personne chargée d’une enquête devrait procéder dans un cas sans preuves tangibles où l’on n’a que les témoignages de la personne plaignante et la personne mise en cause.
Building the Systems We Want to See: Reflecting on Imagine Empowerment
Last month, Aubrianna Snow hosted Imagine Empowerment: Shaping Systems of Care for Indigenous Survivors and Advocates. This event, graciously funded by the We Matter Campaign, brought together Indigenous survivors and GBV prevention advocates to share in a space of self-care and discuss aspects of their work. Read some reflections from Aubrianna and the participants!
Simple Questions with Complicated Answers Part 8
Deb Eerkes is back with the 8th instalment of her series breaking down the campus GBV complaints process. This time, Deb takes on the sometimes seemingly impossible question of retaliation. She explains the power dynamics that are at play and why there is no one-size-fits-all solution, but offers 5 things PSIs can do about it.
Addressing Post-Secondary Employee Sexual Misconduct Through Policy: The Need for Minimum Standards
PSIs in Ontario have 3 months to meet their obligations under Bill 26, the Strengthening Post-Secondary Institutions and Students Act that was passed at the end of 2022. Britney De Costa breaks down the minimum standards PSIs should use when building their employee sexual misconduct policies to ensure they're comprehensive and trauma-informed.
Violences sexuelles à l'université : est-ce que les étudiant.e.s-athlètes sont plus à risque ?
Ce mois-ci, Stephanie Radziszhewski, Ph. D., nous propose son nouvel ouvrage qui s'intéresse à l'incidence des VACS dans le contexte du sport universitaire. Plus précisément, l’œuvre examine le risque des étudiant.e.s-athlètes universitaires de vivre la VACS— une question sur laquelle très peu de données sont rassemblées.
An Update on the First National Research-to-Action Project on Sexual Harassment in Experiential Learning
This month, our Experiential Learning Project launched its second national survey about sexual harassment in experiential learning, this time directed at employers and experiential learning providers. Read all about this survey, what we've learned from last year's data so far, and what's next for this research!
Mise à jour sur le premier projet national de recherche-action sur le harcèlement sexuel en contexte d’apprentissage expérientiel
Ce mois-ci, notre Project sur l’apprentissage expérientiel a lancé son deuxième sondage national sur le harcèlement sexuel au sein de l’apprentissage expérientiel. Cette fois-ci, le sondage s’adresse aux employeurs et fournisseurs d’apprentissage expérientiel. Cet article porte sur ce nouveau sondage, la dernière édition et ce qui est à venir !
A Conversation with Tarah Paul
Tarah Paul is the project manager for the Truth & Transformation: Advancing Gender Equity For Black Women, Girls And Gender Diverse Peoples In Canada Initiative. We were so thrilled to have the chance to speak with her this month about her work with Black survivors, and what brings her joy and hope.
Simple Questions with Complicated Answers Part 7
Deb Eerkes is back with the 7th instalment of her Simple Questions with Complicated Answers series, debunking myths and misconceptions about campus GBV complaints processes. This time, Deb examines the question: How can an investigator proceed in a “complainant said / respondent said” type of case where there is no evidence?
Violence sexuelle au postsecondaire : quel rôle les employé.es peuvent-iels jouer ?
Vous êtes employé.e d’une université ou d’un cégep et vous entendez de plus en plus parler de lutte contre les violences sexuelles dans votre milieu de travail ? Vous ne savez pas par où commencer pour vous familiariser avec le sujet ? Cet article est pour vous.
Six Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic for Post-Secondary Institutions
Covid-19 has deeply impacted GBV intervention and prevention efforts, exacerbating pre-existing challenges while also inspiring services to adapt and innovate. We wanted to find out what these impacts have been on campuses in the midst of the "shadow pandemic" of GBV. From surveys conducted in 2021 and 2022, we've identified six major lessons for PSIs to consider in our report: Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic: a National Survey of Gender-Based Violence Services at Canada’s Post-Secondary Institutions, written by Jessica Wright and Salina Abji.
Simple Questions with Complicated Answers Part 6: How can a PSI apply conditions or restrictions to someone they haven’t even investigated?
Deb Eerkes is back with the 6th instalment of her Simple Questions with Complicated Answers series, debunking myths and misconceptions about campus GBV complaints processes. This time, Deb breaks down what's meant by "interim measures," or the even better emerging term, "immediate measures."
Des questions simples aux réponses complexes: Partie 6
Deb Eerkes nous présente la sixième partie de la série Questions simples aux réponses compliquées. Dans ce tome fraîchement traduit en français, elle examine comment les établissements d’enseignement supérieur peuvent imposer des mesures intérimaires avant même de lancer une enquête sur un dévoilement de VACS.
Statement on the Federal Government’s National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence
The federal government’s National Action Plan to End Gender Based Violence (NAP) is an important step in the work to address and prevent GBV across the country. As strategic policy and funding decisions start being made around its implementation; it is imperative that the provinces and territories do not forget about the need to protect young people and students, who face alarming rates of gender-based violence in Canada. To end out 2022's 16 Days of Activism, we're calling on provincial and territorial governments to answer the calls in Our Campus, Our Safety and prioritize students and youth as they implement the NAP. Read our joint statement and watch the press conference here.
What is the Socio-Ecological Model and How does it Apply to Gender-Based Violence Work?
Courage to Act draws on a theoretical framework called the socioecological model for many of our resources, such as our Education and Training Toolkit. This model recognizes that our actions as individuals are deeply rooted in many levels of the social world around us. Read about the model and how it influences our GBV education and prevention work.
"Passing the Problem" of Sexual Misconduct: An Unsettled Question on Privacy and Information Sharing
Our RIA working group is preparing dive into another thorny "unsettled question" alongside a new panel of experts: this time around privacy and information sharing as it relates to employee sexual misconduct cases at PSIs. Laxana Paskaran introduces this question, which we'll attempt to answer in a white paper coming in the Spring.
À l’heure du bilan, comment le Québec peut-il proactivement agir quant à la lutte aux violences à caractère sexuel?
Dans cet article, Maya Labrosse, présidente de la Fédération étudiante collégiale du Québec (FECQ), propose que le Québec promulgue une loi axée sur les personnes survivantes quant aux clauses d'amnistie dans les cas de violences à caractère sexuel.
Statement on Ontario’s Proposed Bill 26 and the Need to Centre Students and Survivors
Bill 26: Strengthening Post-secondary Institutions and Students Act was introduced in the Ontario legislature last month. This legislation has substantial power to impact the lives of those affected by gender-based violence (GBV) on Ontario campuses. However, while an important start, the sections of Bill 26 that address campus GBV are presently not as survivor-centred nor trauma-informed as they need to be to achieve their aims. The proposed legislation leaves many gaps in student protections that would have unintended and harmful consequences should it move forward without necessary amendments. Read our statement here.