The Manitoba government is taking steps to protect students against sexual violence on campus by introducing changes to the Advanced Education Administration Act that would ensure post-secondary institutions respond appropriately to incidents of sexual violence.
In a media release Thursday, Advanced Education and Training Minister Renée Cable said “Student safety is a top priority for our government. These changes ensure all post-secondary institutions in Manitoba are accountable and equipped with the tools to respond to and promptly address incidents of sexual violence on campus.”
Post-secondary institutions in Manitoba are currently required to adopt, implement and regularly review sexual violence policies so they are prepared to receive and respond to incidents of sexual violence on campus.
Under the proposed changes, institutions would be required to make the results of their policy reviews publicly available, providing greater transparency and oversight, noted the minister.
“It is heartening to see the Manitoba government propose to implement promising practices to address campus sexual violence,” said Anoodth Naushan, interim CEO of Possibility Seeds. “These legislative changes would create opportunities for post-secondary institutions to work alongside students, survivors, faculty, staff and community organizations to collectively build safer campuses.”
Additionally, the amended legislation would empower the advanced education and training minister to reduce funding for institutions that fail to meet the act’s requirements regarding sexual violence policies, added Cable.
