Manitoba wants sex assault policies for post secondary schools

The bill also calls for both public and private universities, colleges and other institutions to have procedures in place to prevent and respond to sexual violence on campus.

It would further require schools to include harassment via social media in their definitions of sexual violence.

Earlier this year, Brandon University admitted it made a mistake by requiring an alleged sex assault victim to sign a “behavioural” contract.

The document required the woman not to contact her alleged attacker or talk about the incident with anyone but a campus counsellor and that a breach would result in disciplinary action.

University president Gervan Fearon said the school would no longer use such contracts in sex-related cases and that a formal policy about sexual violence and harassment was to be in place by the end of the year.

Education and Training Minister Ian Wishart says sexual violence is a challenge faced by schools across Canada.

“This bill would ensure that all Manitoba post-secondary institutions have appropriate policies and procedures in place to prevent and respond to sexual violence on campus so all students can purse their education in a safe environment,” Wishart said in a release Wednesday.

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