notice
Standing Committee Update – October 24, 2018
Like all universities in Quebec, our standing committee is guided, in part, by directives outlined in Quebec’s new Bill 151. The committee began meeting weekly since September 21, 2018 in order to meet the different requirements of Bill 151.
The priority of the committee at this point is to align our current Policy on Sexual Violence with the requirements of Bill 151. As the policy is reviewed, the committee takes into consideration the recommendations outlined in the Report on the Task Force on Sexual Misconduct and Sexual Violence. The committee also considers best practices as well as similar policies from other Canadian universities and other related reports on sexual violence and sexual misconduct.
Each standing committee meeting is organized with attention to the elements required by Bill 151 while other important and ongoing themes and issues are tabled for more extensive discussion after our policy work is complete.
The committee has reviewed the components of our sexual violence policy and has worked on changes to provide more clarity, alignment with the law and to include recommendations from the task force report.
The committee has re-written the introduction to the policy to highlight the university commitment to addressing sexual violence and sexual misconduct on campus.
Current introduction
SCOPE
This Policy applies to all Members of the Concordia University Community, as defined in Section III of the Code of Rights and Responsibilities (BD-3). Nothing in this Policy shall replace or supersede any applicable University Policy or the provisions of any collective or employee agreement including but not limited to the Code of Rights and Responsibilities (BD-3).and/or the Protocol on the Coordination of Urgent Cases of Threatening or Violent Conduct (BD-3_Protocol) and the Policy on Student Involuntary Leave of Absence (PRVPA-15).
New introduction
PREAMBLE
Sexual discrimination, intimidation, harassment and assault are not tolerated at Concordia. The university is a unique environment: an intellectual community with a responsibility for the discovery, creation and sharing of knowledge. This aspiration can only be fulfilled if there is a broadly shared commitment to create and safeguard a positive learning, working and living environment in which all members of the community are free from sexual violence. This policy articulates the university’s commitment to address sexual violence and seeks to counteract harmful myths and attitudes surrounding the subject through community education and training. The policy fosters awareness and prevention, outlines support for survivor/victims, and sets out fair procedural frameworks for accountability. It describes appropriate responses to disclosures of sexual violence and specifies procedures for reports or complaints.
The committee has also held discussions on the following topics:
- September 28 – Understanding Law 151 and Task Force Recommendations
- October 5 – Policy work: Disclosures, Reporting and Confidentiality
- October 12 – Policy work: Resources, Roles and Accommodations
- October 19 – Policy work: Intersectionality and Stand Alone Policy
- October 26 – Third Parties, Penalties and Reprisal / Definitions