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Asian Female

I believe my friend needs to report

So, before I give my advice to [a friend who has been sexually assaulted, I would] ask myself: Can the action described be seen as a sexual violence, as defined in the new policy? And is there any evidence that my friend can provide to report his or her case? That is the two questions, I will ask myself. And then before giving advice to my friend, I need to check if my friend feels comfortable to report this case or not. If my friend does not feel comfortable, [I will help] him or her to feel more confident on reporting this case, because I believe that my friend needs to report this violence to protect him or her, and to prevent this type of violence from happening again in the future.

Recommendations

  • Present learning materials in a way that is helpful to a friend supporting a victim/survivor.

  • Emphasize the victim's right to decide whether they would like to report the incident after they have disclosed it to the university. Ensure the victim is aware of the formal and informal routes for reporting, including the option of reporting to the police. Clearly communicate any limits to confidentiality.

  • Provide students with information about what can serve as evidence of sexual assault for the purposes of a university investigation. This information should appear in the policy itself and in educational materials about the policy.