Responding to Gender-Based & Sexual Violence

We're Here for You

Preventing and responding to gender-based and sexual violence is a top priority for ��˴�Ƭ. ��˴�Ƭ’s Policy on Gender-Based and Sexual Violence is the foundation of our commitment to providing and maintaining an environment in which gender-based and sexual violence is not tolerated. ��˴�Ƭ also has procedures to respond to sexual violence to support members of our campus community, regardless of where an incident of gender-based and sexual violence has occurred.

If you have experienced gender-based and sexual violence there is support available to you from across the ��˴�Ƭ campus.

Formal Reporting

A formal report or complaint of gender-based violence is different than a disclosure of gender-based and sexual violence.

Disclosure: The sharing of information by a survivor with a member of the university community concerning and incident of gender-based violence.

Report / Complaint: The sharing of information concerning an incident of gender-based sexual violence with the intention of initiating a formal, non-criminal process with the university. The process for reporting an incident of sexual violence to the university is outlined in ��˴�Ƭ’s

Deciding whether to report sexual violence is the right of the survivor. Accessing support and resources does not require the filing of a formal complaint with the university.

Submit a Formal Complaint

Non-criminal reports of gender-based and sexual violence are managed by the Office of Student Conduct within Student Experience (where the Respondent is a student) or the Human Rights Office (where the Respondent is an employee or faculty member). A report can be made by contacting one of these offices directly or by filing a complaint.

About the Formal Complaint Process

Have questions? Find quick answers to Frequently Asked Questions about the formal complaint process.

Criminal reports are separately managed by the applicable police services. ��˴�Ƭ Special Constable Services can assist students in connecting with their local police service should they wish to explore a criminal process.

Survivors of sexual assault who are living in Ontario may be eligible for up to four hours of

Explore Support Options

Unsure what your next steps are? Request a meeting to ensure you're informed before you decide how to proceed.

Placing control back in your hands can be integral part of the healing process. It is important that you are provided with information so you are able to make a choice about next steps, if any. To help with this, ��˴�Ƭ wants to ensure that you are fully informed of your options including the difference between a disclosure and a report. Prior to you making a decision to report an incident of gender-based or sexual violence, the following offices are able to outline what is involved at each stage of the reporting, investigation and decision-making processes in order to support you in making an informed decision about how you would like to proceed:

Please note, visiting one of these offices does not obligate you to make a report. When meeting with any of these offices you can expect the following:

A compassionate and empathetic response
An explanation of the limits to confidentiality prior to you being required to disclose any information
An explanation of the difference between a disclosure and a report
The choice to file a report or not, except in circumstances where there is a reasonable concern for the health and safety of other members of the University community
An assessment of the current safety risk to you
You will not be required to share details of the incident or names of individuals involved in order to obtain information about the processes and supports available to you
A discussion about what, if any, accommodations you may see as helpful and the process for obtaining such accommodations
Information on services and supports at Western and in the London community that may be able to support you further

Policies and Procedures

Procedures

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