University of Winnipeg signs on to prevent sexual violence on campus

The University of Winnipeg has become the first post-secondary institution in Canada to sign on to the United Nations Safe Cities initiative, which aims to create safer environments for women and girls.

A steering committee hosted a forum on Wednesday, inviting students to learn about the program and get involved.

Winnipeg was selected in 2013 as the first Canadian city to join the UN Safe Cities initiative, which aims to prevent and reduce sexual harassment, sexual assault and violence against women and girls in public spaces.

Those who attended the forum discussed what sexual violence looks like at the University of Winnipeg, shared their personal experiences, and brainstormed ways they can promote awareness and find creative solutions.

"This was kind of the infancy of the program — just kind of getting students together, getting the conversation going, where do we want to take this?" said committee member Emily Epp, a fourth-year student in human rights and global studies.

This week, a CBC News investigation revealed that more than 700 sexual assaults were reported to 87 Canadian universities and major colleges between 2009 and 2013.

• Sex assault reporting on Canadian campuses worryingly low, say experts
• Canadian campuses lack U.S.-style transparency on sex assault reports
• Interactive: Campus sexual assault reports

The University of Manitoba had a total of eight sexual assaults reported during that period, while the University of Winnipeg had seven. Red River College had no reports.

But Epp and other University of Winnipeg students say they believe the numbers are way off.

"We know there is a very low reporting rate because women aren't believed and women are blamed," Epp said.

"On campus, I think I don't know personally of a woman who hasn't experienced sexual harassment or sexual violence," said Kelby Loeppky, a third-year human rights student.

When asked if they know of, have witnessed or experienced sexual violence on campus, the majority of people at Wednesday's meeting raised their hands.

'The conversation has started now'

At the same time, Epp said any report of sexual violence is important.

"Just the fact that were hearing of them on campus is an improvement, because the conversation has started now," she said.

Both Loeppky and Epp said there are times in the evening when they feel nervous about being on campus.

"Nervous about experiencing something that happened to my friend: getting groped, getting assaulted, being pulled into a corner, not having someone take my 'no' as an answer," Epp said.

The steering committee's goal at the University of Winnipeg is to create a safer and more inclusive campus, create better mechanisms to report sexual violence, and getting men on board to help change the public dialogue on the issue.

"Men don't experience sexual violence in the same way on campus and we're kind of oblivious to it," said Jesse Blackman, a fourth-year gender studies student.