Sexual Assault Awareness Month
For 10 years, Sexual Assault Awareness Month has raised awareness and encouraged people to take action to prevent sexualized violence. SAAM is rooted in student leadership and activism, and events are put on by different UBC groups including clubs,
student associations and support services.
As we come together to do this work on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Sylix (Okanagan) peoples, we recognize that sexualized violence is systemic and rooted in colonialism. We strive to eliminate this violence on a cultural,
institutional, and personal level.
Key Events
Breakfast for a Cause: Support Survivors of Sexual Violence during SAAM
Take Action during SAAM by joining SVPRO and Elizabeth Fry Society for breakfast. The waitlist for trauma counselling at EFRY is 6 months. All donations for this event will go to providing more counselling sessions for survivors.
Clothesline Project
Join us to transform ordinary t-shirts into a message, raising awareness of sexual violence. We encourage folks to drop by the Fipke Foyer to decorate and paint messages. We will display the t-shirts throughout the month!
SAAMbassador (Volunteer) Training
Do you want to volunteer for SAAM and table throughout the month to bring awareness around sexual violence? Student volunteers, leaders, and allies will gain practical tools on preventing and responding to sexual violence in a volunteer role and setting. Some topics covered include: responding to disclosures of sexual violence; and challenging harmful comments and behaviours by being an active bystander and anti-violence ally.
Cats Against CatCalls, a Come Back class
The Equity Ambassadors present an interactive workshop to practice comebacks against sexist microagressions.
Art Hive (Denim Day Themed)
Join us at the Art Hive to decorate, design denim in support of Denim Day.
Denim Day
Wear your Denim. Denim Day is about raising awareness and protesting against erroneous beliefs and myths about sexual assault. This day was created due to the ruling by the Italian Supreme Court in 1992 where a rape conviction was overturned because the victim was wearing very tight jeans, thereby implying consent. The next day, women who worked in Parliament showed up wearing jeans in solidarity with the survivor. In 2008, the Italian Supreme court finally overturned it. Jeans is no alibi. It doesn’t matter what you wear. No means No. We invite all of you to come to school, work wearing Denim to show your support for survivors of sexual violence.
UBCOSPC – Consent & Communication
This peer-organized, discussion-based workshop will focus on the topics of consent, communication, and boundaries. Join us for conversations around what consent means, how to navigate ongoing consent, methods of establishing your own boundaries, and being comfortable with communication about sex.
40% Unfounded Cases: from Awareness to Action
Aden Wither’s experience with the RCMP is not an outlier. Her report is among the 5,000 cases of sexual assaults that are closed by police every year. Join us for a panel discussion with Aden and community activists moderated by CBC Host, Alya Ramadan, to explore how we bring about structural change and explore accountability.
This event is brought to you in partnership with The Central Okanagan Elizabeth Fry Society. Appetizers and refreshments provided following the panel.
Click here for event poster
Tickets by donation
SC17 Policy Consultation and Townhall
UBC’s policy on sexualized violence is being reviewed and revised, and the consultation period is underway. Join your Equity and Inclusion Office and SVPRO to learn about UBC’s policy and the proposed changes and have your say!
Feedback can be provided via email at university.counsel@ubc.ca or through a confidential survey.
Responding to Disclosures Training (for TA’s)
Join Shirin Abtahie, Advisor, of the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office to learn and practice the first steps of dealing with disclosures of sexual violence. It begins by listening, upholding confidentiality, asking what they need, respecting their decisions and empathizing. Drawing on relevant case scenarios, staff will learn the difference between disclosure and reporting, how to support, and how to refer someone affected by sexual violence. Participants will also discuss the “do’s and don’ts of responding to disclosures, your role and responsibility and the principle pillars of the Independent Investigations Office. Lastly, we will talk about how to practice self-care after being exposed to trauma.
UBCOSPC – BDSM 101
This peer-organized, discussion-based workshop that will focus on the topics of consent and communication within BDSM. We will cover an introduction to what BDSM is, as well as ways of having healthy communication and boundaries within BDSM relationships.
