What the campaign provides

EVA BC has developed a province-wide bystander campaign that gives students practical, accessible ways to intervene in situations of sexual violence. It recognizes that while students may want to step in, they may also be unsure what to say, whether it is their place to intervene or how to respond safely.

This campaign provides tools for students across BC and builds on EVA BC’s internationally recognized Be More Than a Bystander (BMTB) program, developed in partnership with the BC Lions. Students are directed to where to find anti-violence support services on their campuses and in their communities.

The approach focuses on that moment of hesitation when a student witnesses something that concerns them, offering four simple actions they can take:

• Create a Distraction
• Check In
• Get Support
• Speak Up

“We wanted this campaign to recognize that intervening isn’t always straightforward and move beyond the idea that intervention is about knowing exactly what to say or do in the moment,” says Ashley Humphrys, EVA BC’s Manager of Social Enterprise. “There can be hesitation, uncertainty, and the questions that come up before someone decides to act. By making those moments visible and showing that intervention does not always have to be a big or complicated gesture, sometimes a small action can make a difference.”

EVA BC consulted with post-secondary institutions, students and student groups, a provincial sexual violence post-secondary advisory group and the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills to develop the campaign materials with messaging that could best reach students.

Why this campaign is needed

Sexual violence is a reality on post-secondary campuses, and students find themselves navigating situations where they aren’t sure what to do, how to respond, or how to support someone else. A 2020 Statistics Canada survey showed that 71% of students on Canadian postsecondary campuses witnessed or experienced unwanted sexualized behaviours in post-secondary settings. And in the results of a student survey from BC’s Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills, just over half of students (52%) indicated they heard jokes related to sexualized violence or inappropriate sexual comments with some regularity.

These findings point to the importance of giving students practical tools to recognize and respond to behaviours that contribute to a culture where sexual violence is normalized. 

“We know that any form of sexual violence has a lifelong impact and that students on campuses are in a demographic at the highest risk of experiencing it,” says EVA BC’s Executive Director, Ninu Kang. “Post-secondary institutions have a responsibility to show students that they can have confidence the school will address incidents of sexual violence. With the toolkit we’ve created, they can send the message that sexual violence — and the behaviours that lead to it — will not be tolerated and that those causing harm will be held to account and survivors will be supported.”

Designed specifically for post-secondary settings, the campaign uses relatable scenarios to show the moments when students may notice something feels wrong but hesitate to act. Posters, videos, social content and other ready-to-use resources give institutions flexible tools to bring the campaign to their own campus communities while connecting students with local support.

Jessie Sunner, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills says, “Sexual violence is never acceptable, and it’s critical that post-secondary institutions and community members be equipped with the tools, resources, and training needed to prevent and respond to sexual violence effectively and compassionately.”

EVA BC was asked to lead this province-wide initiative with bilateral funding from Women and Gender Equality Canada and BC’s Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills  under the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence. This support furthers the ongoing work under Safe and Supported: B.C.’s Gender-Based Violence Action Plan and helps expand access to sexual violence prevention education and practical bystander intervention resources for post-secondary communities across British Columbia.

This campaign is one part of EVA BC’s broader work to support post-secondary institutions in preventing and responding to sexual violence. EVA BC is also leading a project to help campuses develop or update sexual assault investigations procedures.

Learn more about the campaign at bmtbcampaign.ca .