It’s hard to come forward when you don’t really know what happened
First, [if a friend came to me for advice after an experience of sexual violence] I would ask them what they wanted to do and then based on what they feel or what they want to do, I would follow through with whatever - because a lot of people don’t feel comfortable. Like my friend's situation. She didn’t know who did it because she was drinking, so it’s hard to want to come forward when you don’t really know what happened yourself. It makes you feel like it’s your fault. So, it really depends on the person and what they want.
Recommendations
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Present learning materials in a way that is helpful to a friend supporting a victim/survivor.
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Ensure all sexual violence prevention and response education and training opportunities actively deconstruct victim-blaming, rape myths and gender norms. Ensure these sessions take an intersectional approach to understanding sexual violence and supporting victim/survivors.
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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.
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Ensure educational materials and initiatives explore relationships between sexual violence and drugs/alcohol. These materials should be mindful of pressures to over-consume and the fact that some international students are unfamiliar with drinking culture. Ensure and/or highlight the fact that no student who discloses or reports sexual assault will be penalized for substance use related to the incident in question.