Province launches campaign to prevent sexualized violence on post-secondary campuses
According to the B.C. government, almost two-thirds of sexual assaults on post-secondary campuses happen in the first eight weeks of school. That’s why it has re-launched the “… Is Not Yes” campaign.
“Sex without consent is rape” is the message of the province’s sexual violence prevention campaign. Campaign materials are being distributed to student and faculty organizations at 25 post-secondary institutions across B.C. to raise awareness about sexual violence prevention and the support available for students.
"Sexual violence has no place on our campuses," said Anne Kang, B.C.’s Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Training, in a news release.
"Understanding consent is one of the first steps to preventing sexual violence, because only 'yes' means 'yes.’”
Kang says the messages about sex, consent and sexual violence in the campaign are direct because students have told the province that it needs to meet them in a thought-provoking and direct way.
The message of the “.. Is Not Yes” campaign is made clear with posters depicting a young college age couple walking within their arms around each other captioned, “Walking them home is not yes.”
University of Victoria student advocate Anna-Elaine Rempel told CTV News that education and awareness are essential to creating cultures of consent on university and college campuses.
“We need to challenge myths and societal values that uphold sexualized violence and really challenge that at the basis of what it is,” said Rempel. “That’s why this campaign is so important; we need to be talking about consent right from the get-go as soon as students get on campus and continue that conversation throughout the semester.”
The province says it is building on the “… Is Not Yes” campaign originally launched on post-secondary campuses in 2019. It says that after student input, the goal of the re-launched campaign is to reach more students through a larger online and on-campus presence.
"Our campuses and our communities are safer when people know that sex without consent is the crime of rape," said Ninu Kang, executive director of the Ending Violence Association of BC.
"Consent to sexual activity is needed every time, and must be freely given, specific, clear, coherent, enthusiastic and ongoing."
During September and October, digital ads will run on social media platforms commonly used by students, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat. In an effort to reach all post-secondary students, the message captions will be presented in Mandarin, Cantonese and Punjabi, in addition to English.
Posters for the sexualized violence prevention campaign will be also be displayed in popular student gathering places, such as bars and restaurants.
“Consent is something that is important to our everyday lives, (so) it’s critical that we talk to students about sexualized violence and consent as soon as they get to campus,” said Rempel. “We want to make sure we are building a culture and a campus that fosters consent.”
If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual assault, contact VictimLinkBC, a toll-free, confidential, multilingual service available across B.C. and the Yukon 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by calling or texting 1-800-563-0808 or sending an email to VictimLinkBC@bc211.ca. You can also call your local police or 911.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
OPP responds to apparent video of officer supporting anti-Trudeau government protestors
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says it's investigating an interaction between a uniformed officer and anti-Trudeau government protestors after a video circulated on social media.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Loud boom in Hamilton caused by propane tank, police say
A loud explosion was heard across Hamilton on Friday after a propane tank was accidentally destroyed and detonated at a local scrap metal yard, police say.