Gender-Based Violence Committee

The purpose of the Gender-Based Violence Committee is to review district policies, administrative procedures and other practices that relate to our district’s approach to preventing and responding to gender-based violence (GBV), to identify and develop resources and best practices, to consult with community-based subject-matter experts, and to make recommendations to the superintendent and board.

The committee is doing its work based upon an understanding that sexual misconduct and gender-based violence is a societal-wide problem (ie: it is not specific to our district) and that we all want to improve the experience of members of our school community who have experienced or are experiencing sexual misconduct or gender-based violence.

This understanding is supported by:

  • The results of the recent McCreary Centre’s BC Adolescent Health Survey (2023)The most recent McCreary Centre’s BC Adolescent Health Survey (2023) revealed that 51% of female students aged 12 to 19 in BC reported they had experienced verbal sexual harassment in the previous year and 32% had experienced physical sexual harassment.  Non-binary youth in BC reported experiences of physical and verbal sexual harassment at even higher rates (58% verbal and 40% physical sexual harassment).For more information see:  https://mcs.bc.ca/pdf/2023_bcahs_the_big_picture.pdf
  • In January 2025, the provincial government declared gender-based violence to be an epidemic in British Columbia

Definitions

Gender-Based Violence describes any unwanted or unwelcome behaviour that is committed against someone based on their gender, gender identity, gender expression, or perceived gender, and can be verbal, physical, emotional, psychological, financial or sexual.

Gender-Based Violence disproportionately impacts women and girls, Indigenous peoples, 2SLGBTQIA+ people, racialized people, and people with disabilities or diverse abilities, and can occur in-person or on-line.

Sexual Violence and Misconduct describes any unwanted or unwelcome behaviour that is carried out by targeting a person’s sexuality and exists on a continuum from sexual harassment to sexual assault.  It can be threatened, attempted, or committed.  It can be an ongoing situation or a one-time event. It can happen between strangers, between students or co-workers, or between people in a relationship.  It can happen in-person or online, and includes:

Consent:

  • Is the active, voluntary agreement to engage in a specific sexual activity at a particular time.
  • An individual must actively, willingly, and continuously give consent to all sexual activity; sexual activity without consent is sexual assault.
  • Is never assumed or implied; is not silence or the absence of “no”;  cannot be obtained through threats, force, coercion or fraud/deception and it can be revoked at any time.
  • A person who is impaired by alcohol or drugs may be incapable of giving consent.
  • A person who is unconscious cannot give consent.
  • A person may not be able to give consent due to their age (under 12) or the age difference between the people engaged in the sexual activity or due to one person being in a position of power or authority over the other person.

Coercive control: describes a pattern of abusive behaviour used to control or dominate another person by repeated acts that disempower or “entrap” the other person, eliminating their sense of freedom and agency in the relationship.  It can involve repeated acts of humiliation, intimidation, criticism, gaslighting, isolation, monitoring activity, jealousy, exploitation and/or manipulation, and is often but not always accompanied by acts of physical or sexual coercion.

Emotional abuse:  happens when a person repeatedly uses words or actions to undermine, demean, embarrass, disempower, control, frighten or isolate someone or take away their self-respect. Emotional abuse is sometimes called psychological abuse. It can include:

  • threats, put downs, name calling or insults
  • constant raising one’s voice or yelling at the other person
  • constant criticism, blaming or making fun of the other person
  • controlling or keeping someone from seeing friends or family
  • preventing the other person from practicing their faith or religion or cultural traditions or having their own opinion
  • destroying belongings, hurting pets or threatening to do so
  • bullying, intimidation or humiliation
  • making unfounded allegations and can include accusations that the other person is flirting or cheating with or interested in another person
  • gaslighting

Gaslighting:  refers to a form of psychological manipulation of a person, usually over an extended period of time, that causes the victim to question their own memory and perception of reality, and can lead to confusion, loss of confidence and self-esteem, uncertainty of one’s emotional or mental stability, and a dependency on the perpetrator.

Indecent or Sexualized Exposure:  refers to intentionally exposing one’s genitals in public.

Physical abuse:  is the intentional use of force against a person without that person’s consent. It can cause physical pain or injury that may last a long time. Physical abuse includes:

  • pushing or shoving
  • hitting, slapping or kicking
  • pinching or punching
  • strangling or choking
  • stabbing or cutting
  • throwing objects at a person
  • damaging a person’s property
  • holding someone down
  • other acts that cause physical harm

Sexual Abuse: describes anything that forces a person to join in unwanted sexual activity, and can include being forced to look at or watch sexual images or acts.

Sexual Assault:  is any type of sexual contact without the consent* of the other person, and can range from unwanted sexual touching to forced sexual intercourse.

Sexual Exploitation: (occurs when a position of power, authority or trust is used for sexual purposes, and can include but is not limited to situations involving blackmail..

Sexual Harassment:  refers to any unwanted or unwelcome behaviour of a sexual nature which contributes to an intimidating, hostile, offensive or uncomfortable learning or working environment.  It can occur in person or online, and may include, but is not limited to:

  • Unwelcome sexual flirtations, advances, or propositions
  • Requests for sexual favours
  • Unwanted or unwelcome physical contact
  • Sexually suggestive, obscene, or degrading comments or gestures or name-calling
  • Offensive jokes or remarks of a sexual nature
  • Leering, staring, or catcalling
  • Stalking or cyber-stalking
  • Displaying, circulating, or sharing live streams, videos, images or other materials of a sexual nature or which include sexual violence
  • Unwelcome questions or remarks about a person’s sex life, gender appearance, clothing, and/or sexual orientation
  • Expressed or implied promise of reward in return for complying with a sexual request

Stalking:  involves repeated following or watching over or persistently communicating with a person over a period of time.

Voyeurism:  describes the act of watching others while they are undressing, naked, engaged in sexual or other private activity without their consent.