Support for sexual assault victims key, U of A report says

The University of Alberta must improve the support it offers sexual assault victims, says Steven Dew, provost and vice-president (academic).

"We want a safe, secure and supportiveenvironmentforfaculty, staff andstudents," Dewsaid Monday following therelease ofa reportaimed at improvingthe campus's response to sexualassault.

The Sexual Violence Review Group, set up in November 2014, examined the activities, supports and services the U of A provides to prevent, educate about and respond to sexual assault.

"The thing that this report clarifies for us is the need to believe and support the survivors and worry a little bit less about making sure we are going straight to a disciplinaryprocess," Dew said.

• View the full report
• Schools reporting nosexual assaultsnot realistic:critics

It's also important theuniversity'sinvestigation ofsexual assault reportsiseffective and timely, "so that we are notleavingpeopledangling for a resolution forextendedperiods of time," he said.

Current policies are not wellco-ordinated, he said.

People on campus mustknow whatsupports exist in case of a sexual assault and there needs to be clear communication lines following a report, Dewsaid.

"There exist robust protections for any student accused of sexual assault under the Code of Student Behaviour,"the report said."While the robust protections for accused students are crucial and will be maintained, they must be balanced with support for the survivors."

The report identifies 46 recommendations and is seen as a first step in capturing a full picture of the university's response when asexual assault is reported.

Many of the recommendations will be implemented this year, Dewsaid. The university willstrike a task force to look athow to implementthe more complexrecommendations.

The report said one of the first priorities isthe creation of a stand-alone sexual assault policy and a set of procedures to clearly outline expected behaviour,practicesand standards for the university community.

The report includesa table indicating 13 sexual assaults occurred oncampusin 2013, and sevenin 2014.

Since sexual assault is typically under-reported, the documentstates it should be assumed that formal reports represent a small proportion of actual incidents.

"This is a big problem, aproblemthat will take decades to solve completely because it's really about changing society," Dew said. "Wecan start with the campushere and what we're able to influence."