Here’s how QUB deals with cases of sexual assault and harassment

Surveys conducted show that more students are reporting experiences of sexual assault or harassment. Nearly half a million adults are sexually assaulted in England and Wales each year with the vast majority being female. In a survey conducted by The Tab last year, 18 per cent of girls and five per cent of boys said they had been victims of rape. 87 per cent of students said they had been groped in a nightclub.

Queen’s has a number of measures to deal with cases of sexual assault and harassment brought to it by its students. A “bystander intervention initiative” is being negotiated with the University to be implemented in January.

Welfare Officer, Jessica Elder told The Tab that the Union is committed to ensuring that “students are free from all forms of harassment and their student life, on and off campus, is as safe as possible”. 

A qualified nurse, Elder says she takes “the lead from the student as to what action they wish to take and signpost these students onto Queen’s Wellbeing and Resilience Team”.

Jessica also informs students about the many services available to those seeking help, such as Nexus NI, NI Women’s Aid, The Rowan Sexual Assault Referral Centre and Carecall- a counselling service supported by Queen’s University. Queen’s has a number measures to prevent sexual assault and harassment from occurring in the first place. This primarily involves raising awareness of consent among students. Currently, Jessica is working with the University to implement a “bystander intervention initiative” into the development weeks in January.

A campus-wide survey in January that looked into how many students had been sexually harassed, assaulted and stalked had an “overwhelming” response rate of 3,268. The results that are currently being analysed, will be presented to Queen’s University in a report to highlight what areas need improving.