Any sexual act or act targeting a person’s sexuality, gender identity and gender expression, whether the act is physical or psychological in nature, that is committed, threatened or attempted against a person without the person’s Consent, and includes sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, indecent exposure, voyeurism, cyber harassment and sexual exploitation. Gender-based violence also includes domestic violence, physical abuse, emotional and psychological abuse, and financial abuse.
This website is focused on support and education. It is designed to be a tool that all members of the Brescia community can use to learn more information about responding to and preventing gender-based and sexual violence on our campus, and supporting survivors of GBSV.
Our thanks and gratitude for information and content used from The University of British Columbia, University of Ottawa, and University of Illinois.
If you’ve experienced or think you’ve experienced gender-based and/or sexual violence, help is available and you have options. It’s important that you know what happened to you is not your fault and you are not alone.
Choosing to report an incident of gender-based and/or sexual violence is a very difficult decision. As with disclosing, each survivor will have unique reasons for choosing to report. It’s important to honour your choice about what you feel you can manage. It’s your choice to share as much or as little information as you are able.
An experience with gender-based or sexual violence is traumatic and can have various effects on a survivor, regardless of when it happened. Deciding to talk about it is not easy and reactions are different for each survivor. There are many reasons why a survivor may want to keep silent.
You don’t need to be an expert or have all the answers to help a survivor of gender-based and sexual violence. Anytime a person discloses to an administrator, staff or faculty member they will see that response as representing Brescia. We want to help you feel prepared and know what you can do when you receive a disclosure, openly and compassionately.
Get Consent. Build healthy and trusting relationships. Be an active witness. Gain training through on-campus events. There are things everyone can do to prevent sexual violence.
There are many resources available on campus, in the London community, and online that can share helpful information, provide support, offer help with exploring options, or provide a listening ear. No matter what, there is help available for survivors and supporter/helpers.