The Criminal Report: Sexual Assault

Imagine walking home on a Friday evening after a late night class. You are tired and alone. You walk down the hall to your dorm, when suddenly you see a group of drunk boys. You ignore them, and avoid eye contact. They start catcalling you. The only thing you can think of is to get out of there. The thought of these boys raping you, is the only thing in your head. Unfortunately, this is a too true reality for young women in Canadian Universities. We often don’t hear about it on the news, therefore, are unaware of the problem. Sexually misconduct is a huge problem in universites, because many victims are scared of coming out. Victims are often young women, between the ages of 17 and 24. They don’t know who to trust, or who to tell. Perhaps, because they have never been taught what to do in the situation. Education is the only thing that solve or aid the victims in this position. Canadian youth have the right to be educated on the topic of sexual harassment to prevent them from becoming offenders or victims.

Sexual assault in Canadian universities has been around for a long time. Universities students are mostly likely to be raped. Since they are usually new drinker, and easy to take advantage of. In a research done in 2015, they found one in five women experience sexual assault while attending a post-secondary institution. Many on-campus assaults occur within the first 8 weeks of the school year. An investigation by CBC revealed that over 700 sexual assaults were reported between 2009 to 2013 at Canadian colleges and universities. (Canadian Federation of Students–Ontario pg.2).

In late June 2017, Brittany Galler was raped in her own dorm. She woke up in her own bed, without clothing. The guy next door, had raped her, while she was asleep. She filed a police report, and the guys was evicted. He moved out of the building in the next week. No further measures were taken. (Xing CBC) The students cannot trust or rely on the university to take action, because many don’t have policies. Currently, only 9 out of 102 Canadian colleges and universities have sexual assault policies. Ontario and British Columbia have passed provincial legislation requiring universities and colleges to create stand-alone sexual violence policies. (Our Turn Action Plan Final English Most Compressed)

The Criminal of of Canada says anyone who commits a sexual assault is guilty of an indictable offence. He/She is accountable to prison for no more than ten years. If the accuser is beneath the age of sixteen years, the offender is accountable to prison for no longer than 14 years and a minimum imprisonment of 12 months. Or the accused is punishable on summary conviction and is accountable to prison for no longer than 18 months. If the accuser is under the age on 16 years, the offender is accountable to imprisonment for a no longer than two years and a minimal punishment of jail of six months. (Laws-lois.justice.gc.ca, 2018)