Alarmed by the menace of sexual violence rocking schools in the province, lawmakers in Quebec are pushing for a new bill to combat the scourge.
Christine Labrie, Quebec Solidaire’s education critic said “School needs to be a safe place for students; they need to be able to confide in [their educators] and get help quickly”.
If passed, the bill would force schools at all levels, in both the public and private systems, to adopt a policy to combat sexual violence.
In a press conference, Labrie stated that “More than half of the victims of sexual offenses recorded by the police are minors”.
“School is sometimes the only safe place a victim goes to,” she said. “The forms of sexual violence that young people can experience are numerous: sexual abuse at home, intimate photos shared by classmates, violence linked to sexuality or identity, etcetera. School workers must be better equipped.”
In addition to forcing schools to adopt sexual-violence policies, Quebec Solidaire called for more training for school staff so they can intervene when a child is at risk.
Harping on the development, party spokesperson Manon Masse said “It is a necessity that all our schools adopt such a policy,” adding that “In 2017, when there was the whole movement of denunciations, especially at Laval University, young people spoke up.”
It would be recalled that, that year, police investigated several reports of sexual assault from students following break-ins to university residences.
The government imposed rules on universities to adopt a sexual violence policy — something Quebec Solidaire wants to apply to all levels of education.
Masse said “This is a need that is still very real”.
