Making a Report of Sexual Violence

For some people, reporting an experience or experiences of sexual violence can be a part of their healing process and a way to find justice.
There are multiple avenues through which a student at McGill can report sexual violence – including to the police or within the University context.
Reporting through one of these channels does not necessarily stop someone from making a report to another organization at the same time or at a later date.

If you are unsure of what next steps you would like to take, or require further clarification on your options, the SSMU Anti-Violence Coordinators, SACOMSS Advocacy-Branch and McGill OSVRSE can provide more information.

Reporting at McGill

Within McGill, there are multiple places where individuals can make complaints regarding sexual violence.

The McGill Policy Against Sexual Violence sets out a framework of support for people who have experienced sexual violence and the process for making a complaint. Any member of the McGill community can make a complaint under the Policy.
If an individual experiences sexual violence at work and they are unionized, they may also be able to file a grievance with the help of their union.
The SSMU has a Gendered and Sexualized Violence Policy under which individuals can make complaints. More information about the policy can be found here.
It is important to note that telling someone in a position of power that you experienced sexual violence is not the same as making a report of sexual violence. Each policy has its own specific entry point. At the same time, you do not need to make a formal report to receive support and accommodations, both at the SSMU and in the larger McGill context.

The Policy Against Sexual Violence

The Policy Against Sexual Violence involves a centralized reporting and investigative procedure, led by an independent investigator through the Office for Mediation and Reporting. For more information about the reporting and investigation process, click here.

If you are considering filing a report, you can book a confidential consultation with the Office for Mediation and Reporting to ask questions about the process, your rights, support services and related resources.. If students feel that the investigation did not follow the policy, they can file a complaint under the Student Grievance Process

Union Grievance Processes

Unionized McGill employees have specific rights under their collective agreement. In some cases, they may be able to make a complaint, known as filing a grievance, about sexual violence through their union. The grievance process differs between unions; to find out more information individuals should contact their union directly. A list of the unions at McGill can be found here.

The Criminal Justice System

Many forms of sexual and gendered violence are considered criminal acts under the Canadian Criminal Code.
If an individual, upon experiencing an act of sexual violence, chooses to pursue a complaint through the criminal justice system, they will first file a complaint with their local law enforcement agency.
The circumstances for this initial complaint may vary; the complaint could be taken at the scene of the crime, at the hospital, or directly in the police station at a later date. Additionally, at McGill, criminal justice complaints may be made with the McGill OSVRSE Office, who have a relationship with the SVPM (Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal) and can accompany people who have experienced sexual violence to any subsequent meetings with law enforcement officials.
For more information about making a report of sexual violence in the legal system, click this link.
Juripop, a Quebec non-profit organization offers free, bilingual legal services to individuals who have experienced sexual violence and workplace harassment. For more information click this link.