Sixteen universities and 19 student associations launch the first provincial campaign: "Sans oui, c'est non!"

MONTREAL, March 14, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - The representatives of 16 university establishments and 19 university student associations representing close to 185 000 students and more than 50 000 employees, are preparing to launch a provincial campaign aimed at student awareness about sexual harassment, violence and consent. The campaign slogan is "Sans oui, c'est non ! ".

For many years, the topic of sexual violence has made its way into the public's eye through various media coverage. More specifically, this problem has been shown to be present in many universities all over the world. This shines a light on the importance of developing common strategies to fight sexual violence on Quebec campuses and to modify student's behaviours and views with regards to sexual consent and violence.      

The campaign's two spokespersons, rapper Koriass and columnist Véronique Grenier, and many rectors, directors and student representatives attended the launch of the campaign.

"Many studies show that close to one woman out of three will be victim of sexual aggression and that between 15% and 25% of students on American campuses will suffer such crimes. I am proud to lend my voice to the first provincial initiative against sexual violence on university campuses", declared Ms. Grenier.

"It is important to change our mentalities and behaviours with regard to sexual violence. "Sans oui, c'est non!" is a good starting point for this and necessary for cultural changes", added Koriass.

The campaign "Sans oui, c'est non!" was created in December 2014 from a collaboration between Université de Montréal, its Center for harassment intervention, BIMH, and its student federation, FAÉCUM. This campaign aims to prevent sexual violence including harassment, aggressions and other inappropriate sexual conducts by using awareness tools directed to the communities of all of our universities. The campaign brings to light the question of sexual consent and identifies the resources that are available.

"We are very pleased to be part of this collaborative effort between student associations and universities. It is important to educate all members of our university communities about this important issue", explained Michael Goldbloom, Principal of Bishop's.

Over the next few weeks, the universities will deploy many messages and awareness tools in order to advance toward their goal of creating campus environments which are free of unacceptable behaviours.

"This campaign provides a unique opportunity to unite over 185 000 students at 16 universities in efforts to increase awareness about sexual consent. It is an important step forward and we are glad to be a part of it.", concluded Ms Danielle Toccalino, Secretary-General of the Post-Graduate Students' Society McGill University.

Each university will also present a plan of awareness activities, not only during the launch week, but also all throughout the year.

For more information about the provincial campaign, please consult the web site:
www.sansouicestnon.ca

> École de technologie supérieure
> HEC Montréal
> Institut national de la recherche scientifique
> Polytechnique Montréal
> Université de Montréal
> Université de Sherbrooke
> Université du Québec à Chicoutimi
> Université du Québec à Montréal
> Université du Québec à Rimouski
> Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
> Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue
> Université du Québec en Outaouais
> Université Bishop's
> Université Concordia
> Université Laval
> Université McGill
> Bureau de coopération interuniversitaire
> Assemblée générale étudiante de l'UQO (AGEUQO)
> Association des étudiantes et étudiants de la Faculté des sciences de l'éducation de l'UQAM (ADEESE)
> Association étudiante de l'École des Sciences de la gestion (AÉESG-UQAM)
> Association étudiante de l'ETS (AEETS)
> Association étudiante de Polytechnique (AEP)
> Association étudiante des cycles supérieurs de Polytechnique (AÉCSP)
> Association étudiante du HEC (AEHEC)
> Association générale des étudiants et des étudiantes de la Faculté de
l'éducation permanente de l'Université de Montréal (AGEEFEP)
> Association générale étudiante de l'UQAT (AGEUQAT)
> Association générale étudiante de l'UQTR (AGEUQTR)
> Confédération des associations d'étudiants et étudiantes de l'Université Laval
(CADEUL)
> Association des étudiantes et des étudiants de Laval inscrits aux études supérieures (AELIÉS)
> Fédération des associations étudiantes du campus de l'UdeM (FAÉCUM)
> Fédération étudiante de l'INRS (FEINRS)
> Fédération étudiante de l'UdeS (FEUS)
> Graduate Students Association of University Concordia (GSA)
> Mouvement des Associations Générales Étudiantes de l'UQAC (MAGE-UQAC)
> Regroupement des étudiantes et des étudiants de maîtrise, de diplôme et de doctorat de l'UdeS (REMDUS)
> Student's Society of McGill University (SSMU)
> The Post Graduate Student's Society of McGill University (PGSS)

SOURCE Fédération des associations étudiantes du campus de l'Université de Montréal

Image with caption: "Sans oui, c'est non! (CNW Group/Fédération des associations étudiantes du campus de l'Université de Montréal)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160314_C8272_PHOTO_EN_641866.jpg

Pascal Lebel, Press liaison, Cell. : 514-590-6135 or [email protected]