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African Female

They would want to make sure it wasn’t talked about

My parents are very old-fashioned. If something like this was to happen to anyone in my family, they would want to make sure it wasn’t talked about. So, let’s say you choose to report; you have to make sure it stays between you and that individual, and you can’t talk about it with friends, you can’t talk about it with... it doesn’t even matter, just don’t talk about it because you never know how the word is going to spread. In my case, I don’t know about you guys, but in my family, the word spreads very quickly, and rumours start to come out, so you have to handle it very delicately. Not necessarily in a positive way, because you are repressing your child to not talk about this kind of stuff if she wants to, and that can have negative and positive effects. I feel like you are trying to protect them, but at the same time, are you really protecting them? It’s like a double-edged sword; there are two sides to it.

Recommendations

  • Promote SANE nurses as supporters for victims/survivors. Ideally, this would happen in the context of a formal partnership with SANE nurses, which includes 24/7 availability of SANE nurse services on campus.

  • Use an app or other tool that allows students to anonymously ask questions about sexual violence and university policies against sexual violence.

  • 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.

  • In the policy itself and in materials and presentations promoting the policy, define "confidential" and "anonymous," and explain how these concepts pertain to the policy, university-based sexual assault services, and the limits on confidentiality and anonymity.