Workshop on institutional responses to university sexual violence and misconduct between students

On 16 April Professor Sharon Cowan co-hosted an online workshop on Institutional Responses to Disclosures and Reports of Sexual Violence and Sexual Misconduct between Students.

Alongside co-hosts Professor Vanessa Munro, University of Warwick and Dr Sinéad Ring, Maynooth University, this international and interdisciplinary workshop explored how to address sexual violence and sexual misconduct against students, a topic that has been the subject of much academic, sectoral and public discussion over the past decade.

Bringing together scholars and professionals working in criminal law, employment law, discrimination law, gender studies, education and psychology from Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales, Canada, the US and Australia, attendees engaged in a socio-legal conversation about how to best to approach the variety of complex issues involved, how to develop best practice, and what a transformative approach to sexual violence and misconduct against students might look like.

In particular, the workshop explored best practice around policies and processes for disclosure and reporting, investigations, precautionary measures, risk assessments and procedures for imposing disciplinary sanctions. Consideration of these issues requires attention to an institution's legal and ethical obligations towards its students, principles of natural justice and fair procedures, and the intersectional experiences of those who experience sexual violence and misconduct.