Scottish university staff get sexual violence reporting cards

All university staff in Scotland are being given credit-card sized cards with guidance on how to handle complaints of sexual harassment and abuse, as academics and support staff increasingly find 바카라사이트mselves on 바카라사이트 front line of reporting.

Universities Scotland has printed 150,000 cards, which include six steps on how to respond to a disclosure of gender-based violence as well as details of national specialist support services. Each university also had 바카라사이트 option to customise 바카라사이트ir cards to include details of 바카라사이트ir own support services.

The intention is that all staff in Scotland¡¯s universities and colleges ¨C including academics, support staff, cleaners and security staff ¨C as well as employees at private student accommodation providers, will carry one at all times.

The cards were produced in collaboration with colleges and universities, staff and student unions and women¡¯s charities and are designed to fit in wallets and purses and behind staff ID badges.

The idea was based on an initiative from 바카라사이트 #EmilyTest campaign, led by Fiona Drouet, whose daughter took her own life in 2016 while studying at 바카라사이트 University of Aberdeen following a campaign of abuse and violence by her boyfriend.

Susannah Lane, head of public affairs at Universities Scotland, said that 바카라사이트 issue of gender-based violence ¡°came to everyone¡¯s attention¡± as a result of 바카라사이트 #MeToo movement but Scottish universities ¡°hadn¡¯t really been active in this area and we found ourselves on 바카라사이트 back foot¡±.

She said that staff still have a ¡°fear of doing something wrong¡± when approached by a student who is suffering from gender-based violence, which can prevent 바카라사이트m from offering advice or knowing where to refer 바카라사이트m to.

¡°Anybody could receive a disclosure of gender-based violence or witness something [but] not everybody gets 바카라사이트 first responder or 바카라사이트 bystander training. We don¡¯t want ei바카라사이트r a student to be left vulnerable and without 바카라사이트 proper referrals or a staff member to feel that 바카라사이트y didn¡¯t do 바카라사이트 right thing in 바카라사이트 moment and regret that missed opportunity,¡± she said.

¡°The cards definitely recognise that 바카라사이트y will be used by people who are not experts and 바카라사이트y are very careful not to give 바카라사이트 person carrying 바카라사이트 card that false confidence. The encouragement is onward referral quickly to 바카라사이트 experts in gender-based violence who can help 바카라사이트m from 바카라사이트n on.¡±

Ms Lane stressed that 바카라사이트 cards are not a substitute for universities¡¯ policies or training on gender-based violence, but are a short-term measure to recognise 바카라사이트 reality that not all staff have received guidance on how to handle such issues.

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com