Opening up about it is not acceptable
Our demographic tends to be very quiet about it because there is a lot of shame associated with it. Opening up about it is not acceptable and can be terrifying because you’re afraid of, “Oh, so and so might know so in so” [...], and that might affect this, that, and the other. Because it is such a small community in Halifax, it’s kind of daunting to be open about it.
Recommendations
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Sign on with a service such as KeepMe.Safe, which connects students with mental health professionals from cultures around the world and promote this service as part of university SV/SA service provision.
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When responding to a disclosure or report of sexual violence involving racially or ethnically marginalized students, provide these students with the choice to work with someone who shares their cultural or racial identity or someone who does not.
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Consider how a student's identities might affect their expectations and concerns when accessing supports following a sexual assault, or when involved in a sexual assault investigation.
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Provide and promote alternatives to face-to-face disclosures and reporting, such as disclosure by text messaging or online.
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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.