Sexual Safety: An International Human Right

Emma Lind

AcknowledgementsThank you to:

- Anna Kuxhausen

- Dana Gross and Susan Carlson

- Susie Smalling

- Kari Ogrodowski

- Friends and family

Presentation Outline

- Background

- Current Title IX practices

- Recommendations

- Questions

Background

International Experiences

“No Means No” Pledge “As students and faculty members associated with the International Summer School at the

University of Oslo, we acknowledge and embrace the many different cultures represented in the

program. It is imperative that every single student, regardless of cultural background, feels safe at

all times at our school. Therefore, we take the following pledge:

We pledge to:

- Respect the fact that “no” means “no” in all languages and to all people.

- Acknowledge that feeling safe in an environment is an important right of every individual,

regardless of their culture, ethnicity, religion, gender, and sexual orientation.

- Ensure that the sense of safety is fostered and encouraged both on and off our campus.”

What is sexual assault?- “Sexual assault is any type of sexual

contact or behavior that occurs without

the explicit consent of the recipient.”

(Department of Justice)

- 1 out of 6 women; 1 out of 33 men

(RAINN)

Title IX Overview

- Title IX of the Education Amendments

of 1972

- OCR “Dear Colleague” letter (2011)

- Disseminate a notice of nondiscrimination

- Designate personnel to handle Title IX

matters

- Adopt and publish grievance procedures for

prompt and equitable resolution

Title IX in the News

Recommendations- Overarching legal requirements

- Education

- Teachers/ administrators

- Students

- Prevention strategies

1. Address basic legal requirements- Designate a Title IX Coordinator

- Implement infrastructure in

accordance with OCR guidance

“We’re not staffed to do that, and we are not

going to create something that’s incomplete or

based on anecdotal information.”

- Rep for Des Moines Public Schools, 2016

2. Education and Training for Educators- Policy training

- Minors and sexual assault

- Trauma informed training

- Neurobiology of trauma

- Bias training

3. Education for Students- Accurate definitions of sexual

assault

- CONSENT

- Reframe response to sexual assault

- “Start By Believing”

4. Prevention Strategies

Evidence-Based Bystander Interventions*Note: Many prevention programs place the onus on the victim to get out of a

dangerous situation. Not a permanent, pervasive fix.

- Etiological vs. intervention theories (Nation et al. 2003)

- Resistance Tactics (2015)

- Safe Dates

Future Research- Gather data from districts

- Gather empirical data from high school and middle school students

- Develop gender-inclusive programs

- Develop evidence-based prevention programs beyond perpetrator-based focus