A university student (illustrative image).

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Damien MEYER / AFP

  • One in twenty students has already been the victim of rape, one in ten of sexual assault, according to a survey by the Student Observatory of Sexist and Sexual Violence in Higher Education, published on Monday.

  • With its alcoholic parties and student gatherings, higher education is conducive to violence, remarks Iris Maréchal, president of the association.

  • Solutions exist to help victims: each establishment must offer support from a monitoring and listening unit, a device that is still little known.

Alcoholic evenings, authority relationships ... A survey of more than 10,000 students shows the extent of sexual violence at university.

“We had 10,400 responses.

It shows that there is a problem and that people want to talk about it.

We also received messages from victims who thanked us for opening the debate, ”notes Iris Maréchal, president of the Observatory for studying sexual and gender-based violence in higher education, at the origin of the survey published on Monday. .

She recalls that there are solutions for the victims, even if they too often remain unrecognized.

Why are students so affected by rape and sexual assault?

"The hypothesis that we make is that higher education is conducive to sexual and gender-based violence: students live together on a campus, they participate in alcoholic evenings, integration weekends," explains Iris Marshal.

“Many victims do not identify the rape, do not file a complaint, and do not report it.

According to the survey, 56% of rapes are committed in the evening or on weekends off campus.

To the violence between students, who represent the majority of attacks, are added that of the supervisors: "The academic relationship is a relationship at risk of violence", underlines Marilyn Baldeck, general delegate of the European Association against Violence against Women in Canada. Work (AVFT).

“In the teacher-student relationship, there is a risk of intellectual subjugation, it is an ideal breeding ground for the establishment of a grip.

With the AVFT, we support doctoral students, victims of sexual violence by their thesis supervisor.

Often there is immense intellectual admiration, and addiction.

To denounce him is to risk screwing up a whole career plan.

"

It notes the lack of information from establishments on the subject.

“At the start of the school year, there should be a module on the definition of sexual harassment, providing precise information on the channels through which victims can complain.

It is not done.

It's up to them to fend for themselves when it's too late, to know how to manage all that, ”points out Marilyn Baldeck.

Moments of information which could also be "a message addressed to the aggressors".

What to do when you are the victim of a sexist or sexual assault?

“You have to gather evidence directly, like keeping your pants on in the event of a rape, for example.

These are things the victims do not think about, because they are in shock, ”she recalls.

“If you can, you can talk to friends around you.

The reaction of relatives is essential.

We must never deny what is experienced, ”she warns.

Then, head to the infirmary or specific structures set up by the universities.

These monitoring units against harassment and violence are now compulsory in universities and higher education schools, even if they do not yet exist everywhere.

It is also necessary to know: these devices to help victims are often unrecognized: "A quarter of students do not know if there is something to help them", confirms Iris Maréchal.

“We don't communicate enough about their existence.

Sometimes you have to click on 15 different tabs on the college website to find it, ”regrets Marilyn Baldeck.

How can these watch cells help victims?

These cells are made up of healthcare professionals (social workers, occupational physicians or psychologists) or voluntary and trained officials, responsible for supporting victims in the rest of their process, whether or not there is a complaint. , depending on the choice of the person.

Their operation varies depending on the establishment.

Marilyn Baldeck regrets this “lack of transparency”: “Often, the students do not know how it will happen: what is the confidentiality of the exchanges?

Who will be informed?

The victims do not have the certainty of being able to speak without anything happening behind them, while respecting their tempo, ”she testifies.

When in doubt, some students do not dare to go there.

Here too, solutions exist.

These cells "are essential", recognizes Marilyn Baldeck, "but that does not replace the existence of channels of action disconnected from the establishments, in the case where the accused has a particular power.

In such cases, victims can then turn to a trade union organization or an external association for the defense against sexual and gender-based violence.

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  • University

  • Higher Education

  • Sexual assault

  • Rape

  • Student