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Background about Sexualized Violence Awareness Week (SVAW)
UVic’s first SVAW took place September 8-12, 2014. SVAW was developed in response to growing concerns about sexualized violence occuring at Canadian universities. A number of high-profile incidents led to discussions by post-secondary institutions and national media attention about the prevalence of rape culture on campuses across the country. These discussions have consistently highlighted the importance of education and prevention work around understanding consent and sexualized violence and available supports, as well as ways to intervene and respond when harm has occurred.
Previously programming around sexualized violence at UVic was offered in different ways through the Anti-Violence Project, the Residence Life and Education staff training program, and the UVSS’s “Let’s Get Consensual” program. To create a more coordinated, institution-wide approach to educating students and raising awareness on these issues, representatives from a number of on-campus groups collaborated to develop and implement SVAW as part of new student orientation, as well as other sexualized violence awareness initiatives throughout the year.
2014 SVAW Activities
Consent Workshops
UVic is taking a critical step to address gender based violence on campus. This is a big deal. As part of this, they’re launching a campus-wide, multifaceted campaign. This campaign includes speakers, a social media strategy, student pledges, posters and videos, presentations, and (this is where we come in) consent training.
As part of UVic’s Sexualized Violence Awareness Week, we’re hosting consent training. For the whole week of September 8th to the 12th, twice a day, every day, we’re facilitating workshops designed to help you understand consent:
- negotiating intimate partner relationships
- understanding rape culture
- interrogating gender binaries
- looking at societal myths
- strengthening relational accountability skills
- developing your consent toolkit
Here’s more about the training. Read more.
Rethinking Masculinity
This panel and keynote is an important part of this year’s Sexualized Violence Awareness Week.
The evening, Rethinking Masculinity, features Byron Hurt, a special performance by Jeremy Loveday, and a panel discussion with men from our community who actively work to promote positive views of masculinity as an initiative to prevent gender-based violence. Panel members include John Swift, Sakej Ward, Isaac Rosenberg and Billy Yu. Find this event on Facebook.
This event is open to everyone. We hope you’ll come to this discussion about the role of men in ending sexualized violence, promoting equity and creating social change in our community!
This is a free event held at the University of Victoria in the Bob Wright Centre, Room B150.
Join us at 6:00pm on Tuesday, September 9th.