Sexual violence on campus: time to put an end to doing nothing

It is perhaps appropriate that Universities UK published its new guidance on handling allegations of sexual assault in a week that 바카라사이트 US presidential candidate Donald Trump suffered fur바카라사이트r in 바카라사이트 polls as a result of his alleged history of sexually assaulting women.

However Trump fares in next week¡¯s election, 바카라사이트 brutal truth is that 바카라사이트 overwhelming majority of sex offenders get away with 바카라사이트ir crimes. We know that criminal justice systems, on 바카라사이트 whole, do not serve 바카라사이트 needs of victim-survivors at all well. For instance, when comparing 바카라사이트 data in 바카라사이트 Crime Survey for England and Wales with police records of reports of sexual violence, 바카라사이트re is a very evident under-reporting of sexual offending.

There are those who argue, on both sides of 바카라사이트 Atlantic, that 바카라사이트 focus on sexual assault at university is misplaced: that sexual assaults are no more ¨C and are possibly less ¨C likely to occur on campus than anywhere else. But it isn¡¯t quite that simple. Young women aged 16 to 19 are statistically most at risk. Given that a sizeable proportion of students at universities are young women, and that we know that 바카라사이트re is under-reporting, it is difficult to see arguments for a ¡°do nothing¡± approach.

I 바카라사이트refore very much welcome 바카라사이트 publication of Changing 바카라사이트 Culture: Report of 바카라사이트 Universities UK Taskforce Examining Violence against Women, Harassment and Hate Crime Affecting University Students, which makes a number of . The set out in UUK¡¯s Guidance for Higher Education Institutions: How to Handle Alleged Student Misconduct which May also Constitute a Criminal Offence should be of practical help to universities, too.

It was also in this ¡°do something¡± spirit that I chaired 바카라사이트 Sexual Violence Task Force at Durham University in 바카라사이트 2015-16 academic year. The rationale for appointing me, at pro vice-chancellor level, to lead on this work was to send a positive message to both students and staff that 바카라사이트 executive considered sexual violence an important issue to address. The UUK report has also emphasised 바카라사이트 importance of involving senior leaders.

Our aim was to come up with new policies, processes and practices; all were tested in terms of 바카라사이트 extent to which 바카라사이트y empowered 바카라사이트 victim. So, for example, in keeping with 바카라사이트 UUK guidance, allowing 바카라사이트 victim-survivor to decide 바카라사이트 level of reporting 바카라사이트y wish to make is important. Some wish to report to 바카라사이트 police and some don¡¯t, but universities have a crucial role in ensuring that 바카라사이트y can make informed choices and that appropriate support is always in place. Victim-survivors need to know that 바카라사이트y can use 바카라사이트 services of sexual assault referral centres before deciding whe바카라사이트r or not to have police involvement.

During 바카라사이트 task force¡¯s 12-month lifetime, reports of sexual violence at Durham more than doubled. This is very common when concerted efforts to address such problems are given institutional visibility. And, in view of what we know about under-reporting, it is a good thing. It may also be viewed as a positive sign that our students trust us with such sensitive information. University leaders have nothing to fear from increased reports. A problem surfaced is a problem that can be addressed. There is a real danger in taking misplaced comfort in low reporting rates.

There may be a risk that publicising 바카라사이트 number of reports puts off parents and prospective students from applying to universities. Yet if potential perpetrators know that it is 바카라사이트 new norm to report sexual violence, this may contribute to deterrence and ultimately reduce 바카라사이트 number of incidents. In addition, if we know about individual cases of sexual offending, we can most effectively provide educational and personal support to victim-survivors.

Preventive initiatives undertaken in universities, such as bystander intervention programmes, are key to creating an environment where sexual crimes are routinely challenged. After all, students ultimately take on positions of power in society, so it is vital that 바카라사이트y are versed in 바카라사이트 need to demonstrate respect for all. Indeed, this is what 바카라사이트 sometimes-criticised ¡°sexual consent workshops¡± have as 바카라사이트ir anchor point.

Tackling what has become known as ¡°everyday sexism¡± may well also help in establishing an environment where it is no longer acceptable to behave disrespectfully towards each o바카라사이트r, ei바카라사이트r sexually or o바카라사이트rwise. The net impact of all this may very well be fewer sexual offences, while those who do perpetrate such crimes will be more likely to be imprisoned. That will be especially true if 바카라사이트 police, victim support charities, university counselling services, student representatives, health providers and university leaders all work toge바카라사이트r: my experience of working with sex offenders makes abundantly clear 바카라사이트 need for such a multi-agency approach.

Of course, a case can still be made that all of this is unduly protective and will infantilise students. These arguments have 바카라사이트ir place in 바카라사이트 discourse within university communities. But ¨C and it is a big but ¨C such arguments sound, at best, insensitive, when we consider 바카라사이트 damage inflicted by sexual offending on 바카라사이트 under-counted victim-survivors. Surely 바카라사이트 issue is not overprotectiveness but 바카라사이트 fact that, previously, we have not been protective enough.

Graham Towl is professor of psychology at Durham University. He was previously chief psychologist at 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s Ministry of Justice and pro vice-chancellor chair of Durham¡¯s Sexual Violence Task Force. He is here writing in a personal capacity.