Last week, the Center for the Study of Learning and Performance (CEAP) at Concordia University launched the “We are listening” campaign. This major project aims for one thing: to combat sexual violence in universities and CEGEPs, particularly through consent education. To do this, a website bringing together an interactive resource map for victims, filmed training and awareness videos was launched.1.
This initiative is supported by the Ministry of Higher Education and results from a law that transformed Quebec society. Indeed, in 2017, in the wake of the #metoo movement, pressure from civil society led the National Assembly of Quebec to unanimously adopt a framework law aimed at preventing and combating sexual violence in CEGEPs and universities.
This measure required all higher education establishments to adopt a policy to prevent and combat this violence.
We come to the conclusion that this law has proven itself even if we can do better. A cultural change is taking place.
It should be noted that between 2020-2021 and 2021-2022, we observed a 60% increase in complaints of sexual violence in the higher education environment.
Today, we want to focus our attention on primary and secondary schools. This sector seems neglected to us and it is our duty to act.
Collective The voice of young people account has spoken out many times in the public space to denounce the situations of sexual assault that have existed in our schools for too long. The young people of this collective have made considerable efforts to raise awareness of this issue among the general public. The words are loosened, but the status quo persists. The situation worries us.
Don’t forget the youngest
While the government protects higher education students, younger students are neglected. We are all horrified and shocked by the stories of sexual violence against minors in schools that regularly make the headlines. School should be a safe place.
After demanding an investigation into sexual violence in schools last May, the Minister of Education, Bernard Drainville, tabled Bill 47 aimed at strengthening student protection. Although some of its provisions constitute progress, this bill does not go far enough.
The latest figures from the Ministry of Public Security highlight that 62% of victims of sexual violence in Quebec are minors and that girls are three to five times more likely to be victims of sexual assault than boys.
To curb these abuses, we must replicate the model of the framework law aimed at preventing and combating sexual violence in CEGEPs and universities within the primary and secondary education sector. Should we recall that Bill 397, which aims to implement a similar law to preschool, primary and secondary schools, including general adult education and vocational training, was tabled in the National Assembly a year ago by Ruba Ghazal, member of Québec solidaire, and supported by all the opposition parties?
A framework law would prevent attacks by requiring schools to adopt a specific policy to combat sexual violence, in particular through training, rules surrounding social activities, and establishing a complaint, referral and support process. . Everything must come with sufficient financial resources to support the victims. An awareness campaign like We listen to primary and secondary students should be launched. As long as the government delays action, victims will continue to suffer in silence.
We must focus on prevention, which is one of the solutions to the problem.
It is time that the awareness that guided the government in 2017 to fight and prevent sexual violence in CEGEPs and universities guides the government to protect minor students who are the most vulnerable. We must expand the framework law so that it applies to all schools in Quebec.
After all, young people deserve to be protected. Because they are the future.
*Co-signatories: Laurence Malette-Léonard, president of the Quebec College Student Federation, and Samy-Jane Tremblay, representative of the We listen to project
1. Visit the Let’s Listen campaign website
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reference: www.lapresse.ca