Research has shown that professionals who respond to disclosures of sexual violence can significantly impact the health and safety of survivors. The goal of this training is to provide you with effective and supportive ways to respond to victims and survivors who disclose or report an experience of sexual violence. Disclosures can also come from family members or friends.  This training will give you the tools to respond effectively in these situations, too. We’ll examine a range of critical issues that affect positive relationship building and intervention from the moment a victim or survivor makes an initial disclosure or report.

During the training, we’ll show you videos showing both supportive and unsupportive responses. The videos also explore gender, race, class, culture, disability and sexuality, as they relate to understanding sexual violence. The videos are key learning tools for exploring the multiple issues that can influence both the victim or survivor and responder.  They will help you develop an in-depth understanding of the barriers and stigma that affect notions of consent and coercion. The skills you learn in this training will provide you with effective first response tools you can use in all disclosure situations. This session is facilitated by Barb MacQuarrie, Community Director, Centre for Research and Education on Violence Against Women and Children.

Audience: All levels

Resources:

• Centre for Research and Education on Violence Against Women and Children (www.learningtoendabuse.ca)
  • Learning to End Abuse on Twitter and Facebook
  • Learning to End Abuse Online Training Centre
  • Learning to End Abuse YouTube channel (many stories and examples of unsupportive and supportive responses)
• Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women