Sexual violence awareness month begins
The third edition of the Month of Exchange and Awareness on Student Sexual Abuse (MESSAGE) has begun in Sherbrooke and continues until Sept. 29 In order to counter the various forms of sexual violence that currently constitute an unacceptable societal reality. Some 40 awareness and prevention activities will be spread throughout this expanded month at the Cégep de Sherbrooke, Champlain College, Bishop's University, the Université de Sherbrooke, as well as off-campus.
Over the past three years, post-secondary institutions, community organizations, and the Sherbrooke Police have been working together to address the issue and to recall the clear and unequivocal message that sexual violence has no place, either on campuses or in society at large. This year, more attention is being paid to reaching new cohorts of students, including sports teams.
For this edition, even more MESSAGE activities have been opened to the entire Eastern Townships population. These include sessions of reflection with testimony from victims, a mobilization march, a conference on sexual consent within couples and conjugal assault, a multimedia artistic exhibit on consent, and a documentary drama about street harassment. Event partners will also officially launch "Commande un Angelot ", an initiative aimed at preventing harassment and sexual violence in student bars or those attended by the student community.
The fourth week of the MESSAGE, from September 11 to 15, will once again be devoted entirely to the promotion of CALACS Agression Estrie’s Sexual Assault Prevention Week and the promotion of the organization's awareness-raising efforts.
This year, MESSAGE is represented by two well-known figures in the education community for their respective commitments to sexual violence.
Anabel Piñero is a teacher at Champlain-lennoxville and coordinator of its SEXED group. The latter is made up of student aides under the auspices of a teaching committee which aims at better sex education and the promotion of sexual well-being. It addresses a range of sexual health issues in a positive, nonjudgmental, inclusive, and confidential manner. "Dialogue is essential in the fight against sexual violence. It is essential that these exchanges take place to raise awareness and to undo the myths and prejudices that unfortunately persist," Piñero says.
Geneviève Paquette is a professor in the Department of Psycho-education at the Université de Sherbrooke’s Faculty of Education. She believes that MESSAGE is part of promising practices to prevent sexual violence. "This social movement not only helps to deter potential perpetrators of sexual violence, but also supports victims and at-risk persons from experiencing this type of violence," she said. Professor Paquette is also a researcher in charge of the Udes Inquiry |Sexuality, Security and Interactions in the University Environment (ESSIMU). Her work focuses on the issue of sexual victimization of girls and women and interventions to reduce the impact of victimization.
MESSAGE was born of a unique co-operation between educational institutions, community organizations and practitioners, teachers and associations representing over 40,000 students. The collective includes the BU Students' Representative Council (BUSRC), the “Neither meat nor object ‘ campaign of the Cégep de Sherbrooke the Cégep de Sherbrooke’s Student Association (AÉCS), the Cégep de Sherbrooke, the Sexual Assault and Violence Center (CALACS) Aggression Estrie, the Estrie Sexual Violence Intervention 3 months 6 months $82.21) 12 months $146.00 (reg. $155.91) $38.00 (reg. $ 41.57) $76.00 (reg. $ 81.85) Center (CIVAS), Champlainlennoxville College – SEXED, the University of Sherbrooke Student Federation (FEUS), the Sherbrooke Police, Bishop’s University, U de S, Udes graduate students (REMDUS ), and the group Support for Abused Men
For details on the various activities scheduled, visit the Facebook page sherbrooke.passe.le.message. 1 month online $ 7.00 (reg. $ 7.46) 12 months online $42.00 (reg.
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