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'I Believe You' campaign aims to support victims of sexual assault

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A campaign aimed at supporting sexual assault victims is being bolstered by heightened public awareness of the issue. 

With high-profile cases in both Canada and the United States in the past few years, the #IBelieveYou campaign is timely.

“We’re in the midst of a transformative shift. Because of high-profile cases, public sentiment is changing rapidly. We’re seeing a critical mass of people standing up for survivors in an unprecedented way,” said Danielle Aubry, executive director of Calgary Communities Against Sexual Assault. 

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“Any time we see that change in conversation, these are the things that make change in society.”

Now in its second year, the #IBelieveYou campaign aims to send a positive message to survivors of sexual assault that they are believed and supported. Organizers say that affirmation is important because, for generations, allegations of sexual assault were ignored, disbelieved or minimized. In some instances, it was even thought to be justified. 

Public support can make a difference as victims will be more likely to come forward with complaints and to seek help, said Aubry. The campaign aims to create an environment where survivors feel safe to tell and can start to shed the unwarranted shame and loneliness of carrying a horrific secret, sometimes for decades.

“When we start by believing, then justice can be served. If they don’t tell, then none of that can happen,” said Aubry. “Sexual assault is a complex issue but the best first response is a simple one. It is to say I believe you.”

The I Believe You campaign, which runs until Oct. 17, is a partnership of community agencies, non-profits, athletes, 23 post-secondary institutions, the Alberta government which provided a grant of $800,000 over three years, and the military, which has a similar campaign focused on eliminating inappropriate behaviours in the Armed Forces.

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“Operation Honour has the same message of victim support and creating a climate so victims feel comfortable speaking out,” said Lieut-Col. Stephen Joudrey. “We saw a climate that tolerated inappropriate sexual misconduct. But like society as a whole we’re seeing that cultural shift also.

“But this is a marathon, not a sprint and it will take generations to change. But we’re on our way.”

The University of Calgary and Mount Royal University student associations will be holding awareness events and the campaign will include public service announcements, transit ads and media splashes to spread the word that believing a victim is the most important thing a person can do.

Community groups, sports teams, and the public are encouraged to take a selfie or film their own noisy messages of support and post them with the hashtag #IBelieveYou on social media such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Campaign organizers are bracing for an uptick in reporting of sexual assault following the campaign which they feel is already a success after last year’s media blitz.

“The idea that believing is the first step is sweeping across Alberta,” said campaign strategist Joni Avram.

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 A June 2016 poll conducted by Leger Marketing found 83 per cent of Albertans said they would personally believe someone if they said they had been assaulted. But that dropped to 60 per cent when asked if they thought the average person would believe.

“There’s a gap between what I think I would do and what I think you would do. And that’s the gap we’re trying to close,” said Avram.

On Sept. 23 the public is invited to attend the filming of a public service announcement at Kenilworth arena in Edmonton where everyone will be asked to make some noise in a collective shout-out to survivors.

mjarvie@postmedia.com

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