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Harassment, Sexual Misconduct, & Violence

Your safety and wellbeing are the College’s top priority. Our work includes providing an environment that ensures you can be free to study, work, and live without fear of harassment, sexual misconduct, or violence.

If you have experienced any form of harassment, sexual misconduct, or violence, there are many avenues of support available to you and options for reporting if you choose to do so. See this page for an overview of everything students need to know about how the University prevents and responds to harassment and sexual misconduct.

Key messages for you, if you have experienced harassment, sexual misconduct,  or violence:

  • It was not your fault.

  • You are not alone; you deserve to feel supported and believed.

  • You have a choice in what you do next and what is right for you.

  • You can get support from trusted friends and family and/or professional support.

  • Whether or not you report is your choice. If you choose to report, you can also do so anonymously and with support along the way.

You can get support:

  • In College from someone you feel comfortable with such as a member of the Wellbeing Team, the Robinson Discrimination, Harassment and Sexual Violence (Lizzi Rawlinson-Mills), or your tutor.
  • From the University Harassment and Violence Support Service (HVSS)
    • The HVSS provides support to those who have experienced any form of sexual harassment, violence, or domestic abuse (including intimate partner abuse), as well as those impacted by religious or racial discrimination or violence. They can support you whether the incident happened in a university context or elsewhere, and whether it was recent or in the past. If you’re unsure about an experience and think it might involve sexual harassment, violence, domestic abuse, or religious or racial discrimination or violence, you are welcome to access the service and explore this with their advisors. Everyone frames their experiences differently. Please don’t worry if the language others use doesn’t match how you choose to describe your experience.
  • Externally from an Independent Sexual Violence Advocate (ISVA) at Cambridge Rape Crisis Centre.

You can get support:

  • In College from someone you feel comfortable with such as a member of the Wellbeing Team, the Robinson Discrimination, Harassment and Sexual Violence (Lizzi Rawlinson-Mills), or your tutor.
  • From the University Racial and Religious Discrimination Adviser through HVSS or see a counsellor through UCS. The Racial and Religious Discrimination Adviser (within HVSS) can provide the following:
    • Emotional Support: A safe space to discuss your experience of religious or racial discrimination or violence. Help exploring the impacts and supporting you to manage these.
    • Practical Support:
      • Providing you with impartial information around your reporting options. We can advise you on how to raise your case formally either through a college procedure, with the University,or with the police.
      • Support to manage any difficulties/issues that have arisen due to the incident/s.
      • Supporting you through any reporting process you choose to engage with.
      • Signposting and referring you to appropriate support services both within the University and externally.
  • From external sources such as:
    • Stop Hate UK: a confidential and independent helpline for anyone experiencing Hate Crime and discrimination.
    • Boloh provides advice, and mental health and practical support to asylum seekers.
    • Black Minds Matter connects black individuals and families with free professional mental health services.
    • Muslim Youth Helpline provides faith and culturally sensitive support for young Muslims.
    • Bayo lists organisations that work specifically with black young people, including mental health support.
    • BBC Bitesize has expert advice on looking after your mental health if you have been affected by racism.
    • Community Security Trust is a confidential and independent service for victims of antisemitic hatred, harassment or bias.
    • TELL MAMA supports victims of anti-Muslim hate. It is a public service which also measures and monitors anti-Muslim incidents.
    • The Equality and Human Rights Commission explains your rights under the Equality Act 2010, which covers protected characteristics like gender, race and sexuality.

 

You can report through the University through OSCCA or to the police. If a criminal investigation is being carried out by the police, University investigations will usually be paused. See the University page here for a more detailed overview on reporting options and processes.