The budget allocated to the fight against gender-based and sexual violence in higher education will double in 2023 and the government will launch a consent awareness campaign, announced the Minister of Higher Education and Research, Sylvie Retailleau, in an interview published Saturday, October 8 on the website of Parisian.
One year after the launch of a plan to fight gender-based and sexual violence (SGBV) at universities and in major schools, “we realize that there is a real need for action, training, and we are therefore going to double the budget devoted to this plan each year”, explains the Minister. This budget should thus increase from 1.7 to 3.5 million euros annually.
4% of the student population affected by attacks or attempted attacks
“The phenomenon of VSS is better known and measured. Over the 2019-2020 academic year, we know that 140,000 people were affected by attacks or attempted attacks, i.e. 4% of the student population.explains the minister, adding that “It’s huge and intolerable”.
Already, “training sessions have been launched and reporting units are being set up and deployed in most universities and colleges”she notes. “Two general inspectors work there full time and nine hundred people (students as well as teachers or university staff) have already been trained. »
While alcohol consumption “increases risk”especially during festivities such as integration weekends, “today we see a real consideration of these issues in establishments that demonstrate responsibility”reports M.me Retailleau.
“Without yes, it is forbidden”
The ministry will fund “from this start of the school year, projects for associations and establishments up to 1.2 million euros”she explains, citing the example of Anestaps, the national association of sports students, which will “receive a grant to put in place during festivities (…) secure places with relay people ».
A consent awareness campaign is also starting this weekend, and “posters will be displayed (…) in schools and universities, with this slogan: “without yes, it is forbidden””. This campaign will be rolled out on social networks in partnership with the online media Konbini.
Hundreds of sexual assaults were revealed last year by internal reports in several major schools, including CentraleSupélec or Polytechnique, and several rape investigations were opened in June by the Evry prosecution.