► Most sexual assault victims have little faith in justice system: survey
Halifax: May, 2013: A majority of sexual assault victims have little to no confidence in the police, the courts or the criminal justice system, according to a new government survey that echoes what advocates have been saying for years...
-
MYTH 1: Most rapes are committed by strangers.
FACT: More often than not, sexual assault is perpetrated by a family member, relative, friend or acquaintance. In fact, in 64% of reported cases the victim knew the accused.
-
MYTH 2: People sometimes say "no", whey they really mean "yes".
FACT: No means NO, regardless of the circumstance. Also, if someone says "yes" under duress it is not consent—consent must be given voluntarily.
-
MYTH 3: Men can't be raped.
FACT: Many men don't report their sexual assault, so statistics are limited. However, of the assaults that are reported, approximately 15.7% of them involve male victims.
-
MYTH 4: She must have somehow "asked for it."
FACT: This is often how the attacker justifies his behavior. What ‘type of woman' she is, what her occupation is, or how a woman dresses or acts, are irrelevant. No one asks to be raped.
-
MYTH 5: Women who feel guilty or vindictive often lie about being raped.
FACT: Rarely are false reports of sexual assault made. The truth is, sexual assault is a greatly under-reported crime, especially if the survivor knows her (or his) attacker.
-
MYTH 6: Certain types of women are "unrapeable."
FACT: Regardless of a woman's profession or sexual practices, she can still be sexually assaulted. If consent isn't given willingly it is rape. Rape is not about the sex, it is an act of dominance and control.
-
MYTH 7: Women can't be assaulted by husbands or boyfriends.
FACT: According to the law, a woman has the right to say no to her significant other. Again, it's about willing consent. If it's not given, it's sexual assault.
-
MYTH 8: Carrying some form of protection can prevent sexual assault.
FACT: Maybe. Maybe not. But telling someone that carrying mace or keys between their fingers, etc could prevent an attack only adds to a survivor's sense of guilt and self-blame.
-
MYTH 9: Rape is a crime of passion.
FACT: In over 70% of the cases, rape is a premeditated act of VIOLENCE, and has nothing to do with passion. The vast majority of rapists are motivated by power, anger, and control, not sexual gratification.
-
MYTH 10: People who are intoxicated or on drugs are willing to participate in any kind of sexual activity.
FACT: Drinking or taking drugs does not imply consent. In fact, alcohol and drugs can render a person incapable of consent—and no consent equals assault.
|
► Victims of Crime Research Digest features A Survey of Survivors of Sexual Assault.
May 7, 2013: The article summarizes the findings of a study that examined the experiences of male and female survivors of child sexual abuse (CSA) and adult sexual assault (ASA) from various demographic backgrounds across Canada...
► Rehteah Parsons Death Prompts Calls for Review of Criminal Code legislation and a Victims Bill of Rights
Ottawa– April 23, 2013: Justice Minister Rob Nicholson says it's going to take several months to draft a victims' bill of rights as the federal government consults crime victims.
His comments come as Prime Minister Stephen Harper prepares to meet the parents of Rehtaeh Parsons, the 17-year-old Nova Scotia girl who took her own life earlier this month following an alleged rape and online harassment...
► Study Advances Improvements for Sexual Assault Investigations
Huntsville, TX– April 11, 2013: Through a National Institute of Justice grant, Sam Houston State University and the University of Texas at Austin are studying the large number of untested sexual assault kits and developing strategies to address the issue for law enforcement, victims and prosecutors. It is one of two studies funded nationwide to develop model protocols in sexual assault cases. Making a Difference Canada will continue to follow and post progress on this study...
► Check Out an Innovative Sexual Assault Photo Project
February 1, 2013: Project Unbreakable was created in October of 2011 by Grace Brown. Grace works with survivors of sexual assault, photographing them holding a poster with a quote from their attacker...
► "Engaging Diverse Communities" Webinar now Available Online.
February 1, 2013:The recording and slides are now avaiable.
► New Book: Gender, Culture, Religion: Tackling some difficult questions
Calgary, AB: February 1, 2013: From Heather MacIntosh, Program Director, Sheldon Chumir Foundation for Ethics in Leadership - the Foundation has released a book entitled “Gender, Culture, Religion: Tackling some difficult questions”...
► Making a Difference Canada lends its voice
PEI: February 1, 2013:Making a Difference Canada, led by David O'Brien, a Crown with the PEI team, prepared and submitted a letter to the Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs highlighting a resolution passed that endorses the maintenance of the current Criminal Code of Canada provisions protecting the privacy interests of complainants in sexual offence prosecutions...
 |
|
|
15
MAY
|
May Be Me: Dialogues
Toronto, ON
|
Sexual Harassment? There’s an App for that!
In 2012, METRAC released Not Your Baby, an app to help people deal with sexual harassment,
to much media attention and some controversy. It stands as one example of how digital technology can address violence and harassment. At the same time that technology can be used to perpetrate violence, it can be harnessed to prevent it...
|
 |
|
31
MAY
|
May Be Me: Preventing More Histories of Violence
Toronto, ON
|
Campaign Celebration Night
Date: Friday May 31, 2013, 7:00-11:00 PM
Location: City of Toronto Archives (255 Spadina Road, Toronto, ON)
Tickets: $30 online | $35 at the door
|
|
|
17-18
JUNE
|
The Nursing Network
on Violence Against Women International
Vancouver, BC
|
Hosted by the University of BC School of Nursing
This conference will provide an excellent opportunity for nurses, social
workers, mental health, counselors, physicians, advocates, community
activists, policy makers and researchers working in the area of violence
against women to share their knowledge, experience, research and practice
through papers, posters and workshops/symposia...
|
|
19-20
JUNE
|
Critical Perspectives in Nursing and Health Care International
Vancouver, BC
|
Hosted by the University of BC School of Nursing
This leading edge conference engages nurses, health care professionals, and
interdisciplinary scholars in critical dialogue and analyses for
transformative actions in health and health care....
|
|
|
19-20
OCT
|
Testimonial Writing Workshop
Calgary, AB
|
The Voices and Faces Project to Host a Testimonial Writing Workshop
Guided and co-facilitated by writer and literary critic R. Clifton Spargo and Voices and Faces Project founder Anne K. Ream, this workshop will provide participants with a sense of history regarding other social movements, to encourage them to consider the various ways that they might write about their own experiences, and to foster in them the sense that the quality of their own self-expression can be artful and that literary standards do not impede our ability to testify to our experiences, but instead can help us aspire to do so in a way that is lasting and important.
WATCH THIS SPACE
|
|
2013 Mount Royal University Forensic Studies program
Calgary, AB
|
On-line courses for 2013.
Courses:
►FORE 5501 Forensic Risk Populations and Issues
►FORE 5505 Victims of Violence
►FORE 5507 Forensic Science
►FORE 5511 Crime Scene Investigation
►FORE 5513 Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE)
Contact: www.mtroyal.ca/fore for an online application. Students have to apply to the program but can choose to take only one course once accepted.
 |
|
 |
BCIT Forensic Investigation
Burnaby, BC
|
FSCT 7843 – Pediatric Examiner Sexual Violence Core Education
This 45 hour comprehensive course is designed to broaden the expertise of nurses and physicians who currently provide or will be providing pediatric sexual violence medical evaluation. The focus of this Canadian-based, basic to intermediate level training will be on caring for the sexually abused pediatric population. This evidence-based course will be interactive, case-based and provide practical opportunities for clinicians to obtain feedback on different practice elements including documentation.
DATE: In-class: May 21-24, 2013 and Online: May 25-July 5, 2013
TIME: 08:30 to 17:00
LOCATION: BCIT Downtown Campus, 555 Seymour Street and online
COST: $830 (CRN 62188)
Download Course Outline for FSCT 7843
|
FSCT 7820 – Forensic Health Sciences in Violence and Trauma
This course provides a clinical and forensic science based model of care for forensic assessment and evaluation of patients/victims of trauma, violence and crime across the lifespan.
DATE: Every 2nd Tuesday from April 09, 2013 to June 18, 2013
TIME: 08:30 to 17:00
LOCATION: BCIT Downtown Campus, 555 Seymour Street
COST: $703.70 (CRN 59500)
Download Course Outline for FSCT 7820
FSCT 7810 – Introduction to Health Sciences
This course will provide health care professionals and other related professionals with an introduction to the forensic health sciences and their application to Canadian clinical practice.
DATE: Mondays, June 24-26, 2013 to July 2,10,12, 2013
TIME: 08:30 to 17:00
LOCATION: BCIT Downtown Campus, 555 Seymour Street
COST: $662.87 (CRN 62144)
Download Course Outline for FSCT 7810
|
|
|
N490 Forensic Nursing
September 10, 2012 to
February. 1, 2013
|
St. Francis Xavier University is offering an online Forensic Nursing course in September. This course can be taken as a stand alone course or as a nursing elective towards completion of a BScN/BN degree. Nurses who have completed this course in previous years reported they learned tremendously from it on a personal and professional level. The course is Canadian and specific to forensic nursing.
6 credits
LOCATION: On-line delivery only
INSTRUCTOR: Susan Wilson
Forensic nursing refers to the application of nursing science and knowledge to legal proceedings. This course will examine the application of nursing science, combined with the bio-physical-social education of the registered nurse, to the investigation and treatment of trauma, death, violent or criminal activity, and traumatic accidents within the clinical community institution. Patient populations to be considered include: victims of sexual assault; elder, child and spousal abuse; unexplained or accidental death; trauma and assault; as well as the perpetrators of these and other criminal activity.
For more information or to register, contact:
Distance Nursing Programs
Continuing and Distance Education
Tel (902) 867-5190
Toll Free 1-800-565-4371 or 1-800-588-2246
FAX (902) 867-5154
Email or Visit Distance Science Courses |
|
What got me through? So many people, so many supportive actions. And the fact that people believe me. I did not have to live with the horror of being doubted.
My priest told me that I should find forgiveness and move on. Well, I have moved on with my life, but I will never forgive my attacker. He has forever injured my spirit.
I am now able to articulate without fear, guilt or shame that I am a black woman who has survived rape.
If we don't go on living, they might as well have killed us. We need to keep on living our lives.
I am a man - and I am a rape victim. People think my story is unusual. But I am speaking out so that others can see that this happens to men, too, a lot more often than they think.
There’s nothing that yhou could ever do that would make it OK for someone to rape you. Nothing it doesn’t matter where you were, or what you did. Realizing this was the beginning of healing.
|
