In a continued response to the recent hate-motivated attack at the University of Waterloo, the Our Campus, Our Safety coalition and student union partners have written an open letter with six asks of post-secondary institutions and governments to ensure a safe learning and working environment for all campus community members.

We’re sending solidarity to Waterloo and campuses across Canada in light of the devastating news of the June 28th attack in a gender studies classroom. These incidents have deep reverberations and impacts, and we've gathered some resources to support concrete action campuses can take to build prevention and trauma-informed response efforts. Read our statement here.

Throughout their time with Courage to Act, the Reporting, Investigations, and Adjudication (RIA) Working Group has endeavoured to provide tools, strategies, and foundational knowledge necessary to build institutional complaint processes that are procedurally fair, trauma-informed, and reduce harm wherever possible. Britney De Costa and Deb Eerkes reflect on and highlight some key tools.

Dans cet article, Courage d’agir met en lumière des ressources et des outils du Dr. Jesmen Mendoza permettant de mieux répondre aux incidents de violence genrée sur les campus. Destinés aux praticien·ne·s sur le campus, cette série d’outils couvre des sujets essentiels comme les accords de partage d'informations, la confidentialité et le signalement, les droits des parties, les pratiques prometteuses lorsqu'on travaille avec des répondant.es et des personnes qui ont causé du tort, et plus encore!

The following is a community-curated list of free resources - books, articles, blog posts, podcasts, webinars, and more - that recognize gender-based violence as a tool of the colonial project, and aim to decolonize the gender justice movement.

Deb Eerkes est de retour avec le 8e article de sa série « Questions simples aux réponses compliquées » consacrée à la procédure de plainte liée aux violences genrées sur les campus. Cette fois-ci, Deb aborde la question délicate des représailles. Elle explique la dynamique du pouvoir qui est en jeu et pourquoi il n'y a pas de solution unique, tout en proposant cinq solutions que les établissements d'enseignement peuvent mettre en œuvre pour atténuer le problème.

Farrah Khan writes about the process of creating the stunning Healing Comes in Waves podcast and its powerful 7th episode, which speaks with a survivor and the person who sexually assaulted her about going through restorative justice. Rarely do we hear stories about survivors finding a sense of accountability, let alone friendship borne out of that process.

Dans cet article, Kharoll-Ann Souffrant nous permet de plonger dans son univers et nous invite à comprendre la genèse de son essai Le privilège de dénoncer. Par un authentique voyage dans son histoire de vie, elle nous permet d’explorer le vécu des femmes noires et racisées, une communauté dans l’angle mort du mouvement #MeToo.

Deb Eerkes is back with the 9th (and final!) part of her series that has taken us step-by-step, breaking down the campus GBV complaints process and answering the most common questions she hears. The last "simple question" she addresses is that of "zero-tolerance" or automatic expulsion/firing for those who commit sexual violence.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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 !

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.

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?