You want to punish the person, but how does the victim feel?
Participant 1: In this policy, it seems as if the -
Participant 2: [...] The complainant?
Participant 1: Yeah, that they have a voice. They have a choice to do what -
Participant 2: They have a right.
Participant 1: Yeah, like they have a right to, like, come forward. There is no pressure. Most of the time, when there is pressure, the person doesn't really want to talk about it. [...] The whole purpose is the victim - you need to know how they feel about the matter, right? So yes, you want to punish the person who did it, but how does the victim feel? Like, how do they feel about their business going out in the open, you know? [...] I see that for the person who wants justice, there is justice. For the person who just wants to keep it private, there is an option. For the person who is feeling -
Facilitator: who just wants to talk to a friend, and that's it.
Participant 1: Yup! Also, the respondent has rights too [...]. So it's not exclusive of anyone—both the victim and the perpetrator.
Facilitator: Yeah, I think they are both given rights in the face of whatever allegation.
Recommendations
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Use approaches that are trauma informed and survivor-centred.
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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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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.