Audience: Faculty and Staff
Please note: session size is limited to 12 participants to ensure there is opportunity for all perspectives to be heard.
You are invited to join the Sexual Violence Prevention & Response Office and Community Justice Initiatives for a Learning & Listening Session on the incorporation of Restorative Justice practice when addressing incidents of sexual violence at the University of Waterloo. Community Justice Initiatives is a local non-profit organization known worldwide for beginning the first modern restorative justice program and has over 40 years of experience applying these principles to issues in our community.
One of the overarching themes of the University of Waterloo’s strategic plan is to foster inclusivity and strengthen diverse communities. Within this, one key goal is to be a people-centered institution committed to the well-being of all. Providing restorative justice options for addressing harm acknowledges that most sexual violence occurs within relationships and allows an opportunity to provide a safe way for those involved to be heard, develop understanding, and find a way to move forward. Restorative Justice is embedded as an option within Policy 42 – Prevention of, and Response to, Sexual Violence and as such we would like to invite our campus community to learn more about this intervention style.
This 1.5-hour discussion will provide an overview of restorative justice responses to sexualized violence with a specialized focus on their application in post-secondary settings. The dialogue will include several rounds of questions intended to draw out honest feedback, invite questions and share concerns so that UW’s restorative framework is shaped by the wisdom and experience of employees within the UW community. Please come prepared to share your thoughts.
Questions will be posted in rounds where each participant will be given the opportunity to respond. We invite participants to engage fully using both video and audio and encourage those who not able to participate in this way to let us know.
Learning objectives:
Participants will gain an introductory understanding of restorative justice responses to sexual harm in post-secondary contexts. Participants will have the opportunity to have their thoughts, hopes, concerns and employee perspectives heard and integrated into future planning.