Gender based violence is an issue across society, including Higher Education, where research suggests that as many as one in four female students experience unwanted sexual behaviour during their studies. Importantly, the term recognises that men and the LGBT+ community can be victims too.

Work continues across the University sector to prevent and tackle gender based violence, encouraging staff and students to make disclosures and ensure they receive the support they need.

Universities UK brought focus to the issue in 2016, publishing ‘Changing the Culture: the Report of the Universities UK Taskforce examining violence against women, harassment and hate crime affecting university students’. This was followed by significant injections of matched funding by HEFCE to intuitions in England and Wales designed to deliver pilots and new approaches to tackling and preventing sexual violence and misconduct based on the guidance and recommendations from the report.

In Scotland, the Scottish Funding Council has taken a sectoral approach and has funded Equally Safe in HE. Now funded for a second period, Equally Safe in HE has delivered toolkits to the sector, designed to advise and support universities on tackling and ending gender based violence in university environments.

Fearless Edinburgh
Equally Safe in HE is also supporting the Fearless Edinbrugh partnership, bringing together the universities, NHS, Edinburgh City Council, Rape Crisis and Police Scotland to tackle and prevent sexual violence through joint strategic and operational actions. Primarily focusing on further and higher education settings, they are committed to ending sexual violence by challenging harmful behaviours, supporting those impacted and building confidence. The common purpose is to deliver safer communities and culture change – a fearless Edinburgh. 

The Fearless Edinburgh partnership is currently planning an autumn conference for staff and students who have an interest in and commitment to tackling gender based violence. The partnership also aims to deliver a city wide campaign and ensure co-ordination of our work while seeking investment to deliver on a set of agreed objectives.

Staff support cards
On 27 September, Edinburgh Napier hosted the launch of a Universities Scotland initiative which has seen a wide ranging group of experts develop the Gender Based Violence staff support cards.
 
The cards recognise that any member of staff working in a college or university may receive a disclosure of GBV, but not all staff will have received training in what to do. The overriding aim of the cards is to equip staff who have not received training in GBV disclosures with the basic information needed to quickly and safely refer the person making the disclosure on to specialist support services.
 
Hosted by the Principal in her role as Convenor of Universities Scotland, the event saw the Deputy First Minister, John Swinney MSP, formally launch these cards. Every colleague should now have a GBV card – if not, contact HR to get one.

Our Strategy to Tackle and Prevent Sexual Violence and Misconduct
Convened by Assistant Principal Sandra Cairncross and supported by a team drawn from across the University’s Schools, Professional Services and ENSA, a steering group has created our own response to this agenda.

Approved recently by both the University’s Leadership Team and by the ENSA Board of Trustees, our Strategy to Tackle and Prevent Sexual Violence and Misconduct commits the University and ENSA over the next three years to:

“Take all steps within our power to prevent, tackle and respond appropriately and supportively to any and all forms of sexual violence or misconduct affecting our students, staff and those who use our facilities and services.

“In seeking to achieve this we have committed to adopt a multi-agency approach, foster strong internal and external partnerships, and collaborate with local and national agencies. Of particular importance is our partnership with our Student Association (ENSA). ENSA is equally committed to preventing and tackling sexual violence and misconduct, and the University and the Students’ Association own this strategy jointly.”

Over the next three years, the University intends that:

• Our culture will reflect our zero tolerance approach to sexual violence, assault or harassment, and instances of such conduct will be reduced
• Our staff and students are clear about their options and receive appropriate support if they are a survivor of sexual violence or misconduct
• University staff and Students’ Association officers and staff are confident and knowledgeable in responding to and supporting students or colleagues if they are affected by sexual violence or misconduct
• Our knowledge and understanding about the prevalence of – and impact of our work to prevent and tackle - sexual violence and misconduct in our community will have significantly increased

Work in support of these aims is now underway and a steering group will oversee the implementation of actions supported by a number of focussed task groups, including the launch of a dedicated website and online training for staff and students, along with a new reporting and support platform for students and staff to use.

The University are also training a number of staff to fulfil the role of Sexual Violence/Misconduct Liaison Officer to ensure that staff and students get immediate advice, support and guidance on the reporting options available to them if they have experienced sexual violence or misconduct and speedy referral to support from University services or to external agencies such as Rape Crisis.

The University has agreed to move quickly with our plans and is investing in the necessary resources and training. We are working across Edinburgh with the other relevant partners in Fearless Edinburgh and supporting the work of Universities Scotland and others in the sector to bring about real change – working to end gender based violence.

If you want to get involved in this work or participate in training, contact Mark Wilkinson, Head of Student Wellbeing and Inclusion.