Courage to Act: Developing a National draft Framework to Address and Prevent Gender-Based Violence at Post-Secondary Institutions in Canada Khan, F., Rowe, C. J., and Bidgood, R. (2019). Courage to Act: A Call to Action This draft Framework is meant to be ‘a call to action.’ Informed by experienced survivors, student researchers, frontline workers and policy experts working to address and prevent gender-based violence at post-secondary institutions and beyond. What you’ll find in this draft Framework are ideas, concepts and practices inspiring the courageous actions needed to make substantive change. It will take great courage to act. The ways in which we act may look different for each of us. This is the important work that awaits all of us. Working together, this change is possible. Let’s start here. Courage to Act: Developing a National draft Framework to Address and Prevent Gender-Based Violence on Post-Secondary Campuses was graciously funded by the Ministry of Women and Gender Equality, Federal Government of Canada. Courage to Act: Developing a National Draft Framework to Address and Prevent Gender-Based Violence at Post-Secondary Institutions in Canada 2 Acknowledgements We would like to begin by acknowledging that this work is taking place on and across the traditional territories of many Indigenous nations. We recognize that gender-based violence is one form of violence caused by colonialism that is used to marginalize and dispossess Indigenous peoples from their lands and waters. Our work on campuses and in our communities must centre this truth as we strive to end gender-based violence. We commit to continuing to learn and grow and to take an anti-colonial and inclusive approach to the work we engage with. It is our intention to honour this responsibility. Dedication For Kiyan, thank you for patience. We dedicate this work to people affected by gender-based violence within our post-secondary campus communities. We see you, we believe you and we work alongside you. The Draft Framework builds upon the long history of feminist anti-violence activism, frontline work, and research. We dedicate this work to all those who are striving to end gender-based violence. We are building from legacies that came before us and are working to make transformative change for our communities and for those to come after us. To reference this document, please use the following citation: Khan, F., Rowe, C. J., and Bidgood, R. (2019). Courage to Act: Developing a National Framework to Address and Prevent Gender-Based Violence at Post-Secondary Institutions in Canada. Toronto, ON: Possibility Seeds. Courage to Act: Developing a National Draft Framework to Address and Prevent Gender-Based Violence at Post-Secondary Institutions in Canada 3 Table of Contents acknowledgements 3 Promote the Rights of People 45 Affected by Gender-Based Violence dedication 3 Understand the Scope and Limits 46 introduction 6 of Confidentiality Advisory Committee 8 Maintain a Trauma-Informed 49 Responsive Campus About Possibility Seeds 8 Clarify Role of Security and Police 52 Editors 8 Establish Protocols and Processes 53 Listening and Learning 8 for Community Safety Alerts Sessions Collaborators Work with Campus Media 54 Why Gender-Based Violence 10 and Public Relations executive summary 12 Support for People Affected 56 key recommendations for 20 by Gender-Based Violence post-secondary institutions Increase Access to Support Services 57 to address and prevent gender-based violence Commit to Accessible 58 Support Services Quick Reference to Key 21 Recommendation Clearly Define the 59 Scope of the Policy responding to disclosures of 34 Ensure Broad Workplace 62 gender-based violence and Accommodations providing support Provide Comprehensive Academic 64 Quick Reference - Responding to 35 Considerations and Accommodations Disclosures of Gender-Based Violence and Providing Support Establish a Centralized 66 Support Office Introduction 37 Utilize the Experience and Expertise 69 Guiding Principles for Responding 38 of People Leading the Work on Campus to Disclosures of Gender-Based Violence and Providing Support Support Student-Led Centres, 72 Organizing and Peer Programming Institutional Response to 39 Disclosures of Sexual Violence Collaborate with External 73 Community Partners Establish a Coordinated 39 Response Team Support Respondents 75 Ensure that Every Door is An 41 Support People Who Have 78 Open Door Caused Harm Conclusion 79 Courage to Act: Developing a National draft Framework to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence at Post-Secondary Institutions in Canada 4 gender-based violence 80 reporting, investigations, and 114 prevention education adjudication in cases involving gender-based violence Quick Reference - 81 Gender-Based Violence Quick Reference - Reporting, 115 Prevention Education Investigations, and Adjudication Introduction 84 Introduction 117 Gender-Based Violence Education 85 Guiding Principles for Reporting, 118 Guiding Principles Investigations and Adjudication A Comprehensive Approach to 86 Policy and Procedural 122 Gender-Based Violence Education Recommendations Educational Strategies 87 Reporting 122 Commit to Prevention Education Interim Measures 127 Establish a Central Office Alternative Resolutions 129 Maintain Mandatory Training Investigations 132 Form an Education Task Force Adjudication (Decision Making) 135 or Committee Appeals 139 Seek Partnerships Policy and Practices Considerations 140 Deliver Comprehensive 95 for Investigators and Adjudicators Prevention Education Conclusion 143 Key Components of Building an Institutional Education and going forward: growing change 144 Awareness Plan for Gender-Based Violence references 145 Policy and Support Services Relationships and Consent Understanding Rape Culture Programming and Awareness Education for Faculty and Staff Assessment and Evaluation 112 Conclusion 113 Courage to Act: Developing a National draft Framework to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence at Post-Secondary Institutions in Canada 5 Introduction Courage to Act: Developing a National Draft Framework to Address and Prevent Gender-Based Violence at Post-Secondary Institutions in Canada 6 Currently there is an unprecedented conversation in North America on gender- based violence (GBV) on post-secondary campuses. Survivors, administrators, student advocates, parents, faculty, and GBV organizations are pushing for change. These calls to action must go beyond service on an individual basis: they require a holistic framework that addresses policy, procedures, and prevention. GBV and sexual assault are vastly under-reported crimes that cannot be addresssed in isolation. For this Framework to be transformative, it will take collaboration between federal and provincial governments, post-secondary institutions (PSI), survivor advocates, grassroots movements, and community organizations to end GBV. Student advocates, unions, organizations, research, To address this urgent issue the Government of and grassroots survivor-led groups have been Canada made a $5.5 million commitment to develop working for decades to address sexual violence on a National Gender-Based Violence Campus Draft campus. As a result, over the past few years there Framework over the next five years facilitated have been some key changes in PSIs to address through the Department of Women and Gender sexual violence across Canada. Beginning in 2016, Equality. Over a five month period, from January provincial governments, including Ontario, British to May 2019, Possibility Seeds was tasked with Columbia, Quebec and Manitoba, have passed the development of the draft Framework with legislation mandating all PSIs (colleges, universities, support of Women and Gender Equality Framework CEGEP, trade schools) to establish stand-alone Advisory Committee. The draft Framework sexual violence policies. Since then, other provinces captures promising practices, key policy areas, and have followed suit. prevention plans developed in collaboration with community stakeholders from across Canada. It builds on the crucial work—led by students, staff, faculty, and community organizers—already being done on campuses to address sexual violence, while expanding the scope to more broadly include GBV. Courage to Act: Developing a National Draft Framework to Address and Prevent Gender-Based Violence at Post-Secondary Institutions in Canada 7 Draft Framework Advisory Committee The Department of Women and Gender Equality established the Draft Framework Advisory Committee to assist in the development of the Draft Framework to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence at Post-Secondary Institutions. The Draft Framework’s Advisory Committee was formed to support the Government of Canada in its commitment to developing a harmonized framework ensuring consistent and sustainable approaches in addressing GBV at PSIs across Canada. The Advisory Committee is an informed, vibrant Trina James, Canadian Federation group of individuals dedicated to addressing and of Students (CFS) preventing GBV at PSIs. The members of the Bee Khaleeli, Sexual Assault Centre Advisory Committee include: of McGill University Priya Dube, Canadian Alliance of Student Mélanie Lemay, Québec contre Association (CASA) les violences sexuelles Arig al Shaibah, McMaster University Lucia Lorenzi, McMaster University Brenda Austin-Smith, Canadian Association Myrna McCallum, Miyo Pimatisiwin of University Teachers (CAUT) Legal Services Manon Bergeron, Université du Québec Jesmen Mendoza, Ryerson University à Montréal Janet Morrison,