We are adding staff, offering more training and information sessions, and investing in new facilities to protect every member of the York community from sexual violence and to support survivors. This includes proposing that any CUPE 3903 member can take a domestic or sexual violence leave of up to one full term – including four weeks paid – where they or their child experiences or is threatened with domestic or sexual violence.

York University has and continues to take strong action on sexual violence to support survivors.

The Policy on Sexual Violence at York University was developed with input from the entire York community including many opportunities for input from CUPE 3903 and was approved by the Board of Governors in December 2016.

York University introduced its first Sexual Harassment Policy in 1995 and since that time we have continued to build on that Policy and introduce innovative programming. Some new initiatives include:

Individual support for survivors

We recognize that the circumstances and needs of each survivor of sexual violence is unique.

York’s Sexual Violence Response Office (SVRO) provides a central resource and first point of contact for those impacted by sexual violence to access counselling, support, services and referrals that best meet their individual needs.

York University has partnered with the off-campus Barbra Schlifer Clinic to augment existing personal counselling services.

CUPE 3903 survivors of sexual violence can take a leave of absence of up to an entire academic term.  

In current negotiations with CUPE 3903, we have proposed that any CUPE 3903 member can take a domestic or sexual violence leave where they or their child experiences or is threatened with domestic or sexual violence.

The leave would allow the employee to seek medical attention, counselling, victim and support services, legal assistance for themselves or their children and/or to relocate.

Up to four weeks of the leave would be paid.

Full-time Sexual Violence Counsellor  

As part of York’s continuing efforts to respond to the needs of students who have been impacted by sexual violence, an additional counsellor has been hired to augment the services already being provided by Student Counselling & Development (SCD).

Counsellors within SCD work from a trauma-informed, culturally sensitive perspective and SCD has been providing support and psychotherapy to survivors and others who have been impacted by sexual violence for many years.   In order to expand the ability of SCD to see more survivors of sexual violence in a timely fashion, another counsellor with experience working within this area has been added to the counselling team.

New Centre for Sexual Violence, Response & Education to open in York Lanes in Spring 2018

The Centre for Sexual Violence, Response and Education will be opening in Spring 2018. This stand-alone Centre will offer a new location for the York community to access the sexual violence response services we now provide.  Not only will it serve as the first point of contact for survivors in navigating the impact of recent and/or historical sexual violence, but it will also be a place to provide innovative and progressive programs, training and alternative counselling options (such as group work) for our community members. 

Enhanced Sexual Violence Training Pilot Project proposed for 2018

York University has tabled enhanced sexual violence training for 2018 in the current CUPE 3903 labour negotiations. If accepted, this pilot project would determine how sexual violence training would be delivered, who should be trained, and how it should be rolled out.

York has also proposed that sexual violence training will be part of mandatory training included in regular paid responsibilities.

Information sessions reach 3,000 staff and student leaders to date

The Sexual Violence Response Office staff have delivered more than 70 information sessions since January 2017 and are continuing to expand on these sessions. Initial efforts have been focused on a number of groups including Student Orientation Leaders and Human Resources Managers.

York remains fully committed to fostering a culture where attitudes and behaviours that perpetuate sexual violence are rejected, survivors are supported and those who commit incidents of sexual violence are held accountable.

If you have experienced sexual violence or would like more information, please contact the Sexual Violence Response Office at 416-736-5211 or visit the website at svro.yorku.ca