King's strengthens gender-based sexual violence policy

King’s has updated our Gender-based Sexual Violence (GBSV) policy (formerly known as the Sexual Violence policy) which was approved by the Board of Directors on May 25, 2022.

“Strengthening our policy is the foundation for a number of strategies to address issues of gender-based sexual violence in our community and on campus. I want to thank everyone who has participated in the consultations but especially our students who are at the forefront, driving the positive culture change, and who have worked with us in developing our policy, interventions and awareness work,” says Joe Henry, Dean of Students.

Alongside our policies, King’s has initiated the following activities:

• GBSV training will be provided to all students, employees (including interns), student leaders (including Sophs) and first-year students, for the 2022-2023 terms.
• There will be specialized and enhanced training for Residence Assistants (RAs).
• All incoming first-year students must complete the GBSV Training before Orientation prior to participating in O-Week activities.
• The revised GBSV training will be part of the mandatory sexual violence disclosure training and will be added to the HRDownloads system for completion by all employees.

The update to King’s GBSV policy also includes a campaign highlighting the resources that King’s has put in place to help prevent GBSV and to support survivors. For example, some tools on campus are emergency buttons to call security which have been placed on all parking gates; instruction for employees on what to do if someone discloses they have experienced gender-based sexual violence; and the means to offer support to survivors.

As announced on May 4, 2022, King’s worked with our student leaders, staff and faculty, to develop three strategic initiatives to address the issues of gender and sexual based violence: 

• Our current Board policy and procedures will be reviewed annually to enhance supports to survivors and hold perpetrators accountable for their actions.
• A Campus and Community Social Worker/Case Manager role was created in 2021 to continue to break down barriers for those who disclose/need support and to simplify the complaint process.
• All employees are required to complete GBSV disclosure and policy training.