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Asian Female

The hardest part is collecting evidence

I think the hardest part of the problem of sexual assault is collecting evidence.
'Cause people could lie, or just regret it after they have sex, or one person could lie like, "another person sexually assaulted me," and that could be the hard part for the police or the school to identify the situation. There is no actual evidence to prove it.

Recommendations

  • Deliver accessible education about Canadian sexual assault laws, including how they work, and the ways they tend to fail survivors in practice.

  • 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.

  • Address concern around wrongful accusations while developing new policies or training materials.

  • Address respondent rights and supports available to respondents in each of the following circumstances: 1) the investigation into the complaint is ongoing 2) the investigation concludes that the respondent has violated the policy, or 3) the investigation does not conclude that the respondent has violated the policy.

  • 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.