TORONTO, February 23, 2015 – The Board of Governors of York University today approved a policy on awareness, prevention and response to sexual assault, affirming the institution’s ongoing commitment to foster a culture where its impact is understood, survivors are supported, and those who commit incidents of sexual assault are held accountable through due process.
“This policy emphasizes that York and other universities play an important role in addressing this very serious societal issue, especially when it occurs on our campuses,” says Mamdouh Shoukri, President and Vice-Chancellor, York University. “We are strongly committed to raising awareness, reducing the number of incidents, and providing support to those who have been impacted through a culture of compassion and understanding.”
The policy builds on York’s efforts to date by providing an integrated framework for education, awareness, and prevention. It also fosters engagement to enable students, faculty and staff to recognize, respond to, and help prevent sexual assault on campus, ensuring that appropriate procedures are in place.
A policy development working group comprised of students, faculty and staff worked over several months to determine best practices for policy, pan-university prevention and response and active bystander programs. York University was among the first postsecondary institutions in Canada to communicate to its community when sexual assaults occur on its campuses and is a recognized leader in gender studies, social justice and equity studies. The university uses the Criminal Code of Canada definition in its reporting of sexual assault.
York University is helping to shape the global thinkers and thinking that will define tomorrow. York U’s unwavering commitment to excellence reflects a rich diversity of perspectives and a strong sense of social responsibility that sets us apart. A York U degree empowers graduates to thrive in the world and achieve their life goals through a rigorous academic foundation balanced by real-world experiential education. As a globally recognized research centre, York U is fully engaged in the critical discussions that lead to innovative solutions to the most pressing local and global social challenges. York U’s 11 faculties and 27 research centres are thinking bigger, broader and more globally, partnering with 288 leading universities worldwide. York U’s community is strong − 55,000 students, 7,000 faculty and staff, and more than 275,000 alumni.
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Media contact: Joanne Rider, (416) 736-5593, jrider@yorku.ca
