Consent is Mandatory!

Over thirty years ago, the Canadian Federation of Students developed the “No Means No” campaign to raise awareness about sexual violence campus and intimate partner violence. The “No Means No” campaign consisted of various materials, including buttons and information cards about consent, sexual violence and rape culture. The “No Means No” campaign recognized that as long rape culture and sexual violence persist in our communities, our campuses will remain inaccessible. All students have the right to feel safe and secure on campus.

Since then, the campaign has evolved into the “Consent Is Mandatory” campaign in order to make structural and cultural changes and acknowledge the complex ways that rape culture persists. Rape culture is a societal system that works to benefit abusers and further ostracize survivors. Rape culture does this by normalizing sexual violence and abusive behaviour in media, relationships and every other aspect of society. The “Consent is Mandatory” campaign that builds a culture of consent on campus by normalizing processes of seeking consent and putting survivors first.
In 2014, students across the province, including at UTM, saw a massive victory. The provincial government-mandated all universities and colleges to develop sexual violence policies and on-campus resource centers. The UTMSU has been instrumental in pushing for changes to the UofT Sexual Violence Policy and ensuring that on and off-campus supports are diverse and accessible.

What is consent?

Consent is permission for something to happen to you, around you or with you, whether it be sexual or nonsexual. Consent is enthusiastic, sober, equal in power, can be taken away at any point and is mandatory. Consent is about making sure every person feels safe, comfortable and has ownership over their own body, space and decisions. The way a person identifies, looks, dresses or acts has no influence over whether their consent is given or not given.
To get involved in this campaign contact vpequity@utmsu.ca

If you require immediate assistance please call an ambulance and the police by dialling ‘911’. ECSpeRT (905 569-4925) and Campus Police (911 or 905-569-4333) may also be contacted if you are on campus.

If you choose to speak with someone confidentially please contact any of the following services.

  • Health and Counselling centre – for medical help and counselling.
  • Rape Crisis – next steps and counselling.
  • Sexual Violence Prevention & Support Centre on-campus – counselling, medical services, academic or workplace accommodations, financial aid and legal aid.
Resources and contacts for sexual violence survivors

On-Campus Resources:

Sexual Violence Prevention and Support Centre
Focuses on assisting and supporting students, staff and faculty at the University of Toronto who have been affected by sexual violence or sexual harassment. They assist students in understanding, accessing and navigating supports such as counselling, medical services, academic or workplace accommodations, financial aid and legal aid.
Phone: 416 978 2266
E-mail: thesvpcentre@utoronto.ca
Website: www.safety.utoronto.ca
UTM Location: RM 3094G, Davis Building
St. George Location: Inside Gerstein Science Information Centre, 9 King’s College Circle
UTSC Location: RM 141, Environmental Science & Chemistry Building

Off-Campus Resources:

Assaulted Women’s Help Line
An organization offers a 24-hour telephone and TTY crisis line to all women who have experienced abuse. They provide counselling, emotional support, information and referrals.
Phone: Toll-free 1-866-863-0511 or Toll-free TTY 1-866863-7868
Text: #SAFE (7233)
Website: awhl.org

Hope 24/7
A charity organization that offers psychotherapy services for people who have been impacted by relationship & sexual violence. Their focus is to assist individuals who have experienced traumatic interpersonal violence through evidence-based treatment and prevention programming.

Phone: 905-792-0821
Fax: 905-792-1567
Website: hope247.ca/

Kid’s Help Phone
An organization is Canada’s only 24/7, national support service. They offer professional counselling, information and referrals, and volunteer-led, text-based support to young people in both English and French.
Phone: 1-800-668-6868
Website: Kidshelpphone.ca

Metropolitan Action Committee on Violence Against Women
An organization that provides information via facts sheets on violence against women including sexual assaults, stalking and criminal harassment.
Phone: 416-392-3135
Email: info@metrac.org
Website: metrac.org

Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Care and Treatment
Focuses on providing support and care to people who experienced a recent sexual assault and/or act of violence by an intimate partner. They provide healthcare options, crisis support and counselling.
Phone: 416-323-6400
Email: info@sadvtreatmentcentres.ca
Website: sadvtreatmentcentres.ca

Toronto Rape Crisis Centre/Multicultural Women Against Rape (TTCR/MWAR)
A grassroots, women-run collective working towards a violence-free world by providing anti-oppressive, feminist peer support to survivors of sexual violence through support, education and activism.

Phone: 416-597-8808
Email: info@trccmwar.ca
Website: trccmwar.ca

Victim Support Line
Ontario, Ministry of the Attorney General provides information about programs and services for victims of crime and their families.

Phone: 416-314-2447 (Toronto) or 1-888-579-2888
Website: attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/english/ovss/programs.php

Woman Abuse Council of Toronto
A policy development and planning body that coordinates an efficient and effective approach to providing services for assaulted women and their families.
Phone: 416-944-9242
Helpline: 416-863-0511
Website: womanact.ca

24/7 Crisis Support Peel-Dufferin
A program is a voluntary community crisis service that is comprised of a team of crisis support workers who are registered social workers, nurses and occupational therapists. A crisis support worker will speak to you over the telephone to assess the nature of the crisis and to put a plan in place to ensure safety and support.
Phone: 905-278-9036 or 1-888-811-2222 (Caledon & Dufferin)
Website: cmhapeeldufferin.ca/programs-services/24-7-crisis-support-peel/