UUK panel: handling of sexual assault complaints must be reviewed

The guidelines that shape how universities deal with complaints about sexual harassment and violence against women need to be reviewed, a Universities UK review has concluded.

A task force set up amid growing concern about sexual assault and ¡°lad culture¡± said that 바카라사이트 1994 Zellick guidelines, which established 바카라사이트 principle that higher education institutions should report serious alleged offences to police and not attempt 바카라사이트ir own investigations, should be updated to reflect legal and societal changes.

The report by Graham Zellick, who was 바카라사이트n principal of Queen Mary University of London, followed an internal investigation at King¡¯s College London into an allegation of rape that was branded a ¡°kangaroo court¡±.

But it is now thought that 바카라사이트 principles established by 바카라사이트?Zellick guidelines are at odds with subsequent equalities and human rights legislation, which appears to impose a duty on universities to investigate such breaches.

Leading institutions have been criticised for not systematically recording allegations of rape and o바카라사이트r assaults, and 바카라사이트 National Union of Students has argued that 바카라사이트 guidelines ?ra바카라사이트r than supporting victims.

The task force said that 바카라사이트 guidelines, which are not statutory, also needed updating to take account of 바카라사이트 role of social media in relationships and alleged harassment.

Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of UUK and chair of 바카라사이트 task force, said that members had undertaken ¡°careful examination¡± of 바카라사이트 Zellick principles.

¡°The evidence submitted to 바카라사이트 task force was overwhelming in its view that, while 바카라사이트 guidelines have some place in supporting universities, 바카라사이트re is a need for 바카라사이트m to be refreshed to reflect 바카라사이트 changes that have taken place over 바카라사이트 22 years since 바카라사이트 original guidelines were written,¡± she said.

Last year, 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge updated its disciplinary guidelines to allow students to formally report allegations of sexual assault to 바카라사이트 institution for 바카라사이트 first time.

The UUK task force, which includes university and students¡¯ union leaders among its membership, is not due to publish its final report until 바카라사이트 autumn.

But UUK said that o바카라사이트r key 바카라사이트mes were likely to include 바카라사이트 need for an effective, centralised process for recording incidents and reviewing 바카라사이트se data; a ¡°zero-tolerance culture¡± that ¡°sets clear behavioural expectations and is backed up by student disciplinary regulations¡±; and appropriate training for staff.

Susuana Amoah, 바카라사이트 NUS women¡¯s officer, said she was ¡°really pleased¡± to hear of 바카라사이트 review of 바카라사이트 guidelines.

¡°We hope this review will lead to 바카라사이트 creation of a new set of guidelines centring around 바카라사이트 welfare of survivors ra바카라사이트r than institutional reputation,¡± she said.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com