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CBEP

Creating a Culture of Consent in Cumberland County

About

CBEP

The Community Bystander Empowerment Program
•    Prevention of sexual violence initiative in Cumberland County through the Nova Scotia sexual violence strategy. 
•    Sexual violence occurs “when consent is not obtained or not given freely.” 
•    In Canada, sexual assault refers “to all incidents of unwanted sexual activity, including sexual attacks and sexual touching.”
o    Sexual touching: includes grabbing, kissing, fondling
o    A sexual attack is a force, or attempted force, into unwanted sexual activity via threats, or physical domination. 
o    Bystanders are neither victims nor perpetrators, but indirect witnesses who can intervene and create positive changes in perceptions about social norms surrounding sexual assault to the wider community.
•    CBEP intends to increase the likelihood that bystanders will feel empowered to intervene safely in situations where the threat of harm may occur. Skills learned through role playing, such as how to perform the 3D’s: Distract, Defer, Direct
•    The aim of the program is to:
o     Increase awareness of the continuum of sexual violence.
o    Increase a sense of personal and community responsibility.
o    Practice skills in the interruption of incidences of sexual violence from sexist, homophobic, and gender-biased language through to sexual assault. 
o    Create a culture of change in Cumberland County on the continuum of sexual violence from ‘Rape Culture’ toward a ‘Culture of Consent.’  

About

Youth Program 

CBEP is collaborating with experts across the Province of Nova Scotia and youth to develop and pilot a creative interactive program adapted to meet CCRSB curriculum guidelines. Almost half of all reported victims in Nova Scotia are aged 15-24, there is currently no bystander programs designed for youth ages 12-18. Thus, there is a need to make this part of the required school curriculum.

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​Topics include: 

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What is sexual violence?

  • The Continuum of Sexual Violence

  • Cost to individuals 

  • Cost to Society 

  • Consent & the Law 

  • Rape Myths – victim blaming 

  • Rape/alcohol culture

  • Toxic Masculinity 

  • Heteronormativity

  • Sexism 

  • Gender Roles

  • Double Standard

  • Objectification

  • Marketing & Advertising

  • Social Media 

  • Cyberbullying 

  • Harassment 

  • Gender-biased language


What is a bystander?


The Bystander Effect:

  • Diffusion of Responsibility

  • Audience Effect

  • Social Inhibition 

  • Pluralistic Ignorance

  • Lack of self-efficacy

  • Personal Risk/Safety

  • The Power of One


How can I help?

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5 Critical Steps:

  • Notice - Awareness, know the law, the continuum 

  • Perceive problem - Consider how others might feel, empathy training

  • Take responsibility - personal accountability

  • Know what to do - skills 3D’s: Distract, Direct, Differ

  • Take Action  - Practice skills/role play

 

CommunityAwareness

The CBEP "I've Got the Power" youth empowerment program was inspired by Paulo Freire's pedagogy of the oppressed to liberate oppressors and the oppressed from oppressive systems through "conscientizacao" or consciousness raising toward critical social consciousness and collective action. As we share and dialogue about sexual violence we become aware of the Rape Culture in which we live and that hurts all of us, and as we exercise our creativity and voices through public artworks we share our learnings with our community toward creating a cultural shift toward Consent.

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ProfessionalTraining  

CBEP offers the youth empowerment program "I've Got the Power" facilitator training to professional currently or interested in working with youth based in part on the breakingthesilence.ca training  

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Topics include: 

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Sexual Violence: An Introduction

  • What is Sexual Violence? Let's Talk about Power

  • An Intersectional Approach to Sexual Violence

  • What is Rape Culture?

  • Victims/Survivors and the Impact of Sexual Violence?

  • Who Perpetrates Sexual Violence?

  • Why Do So Few People Report Sexual Violence?

  • Sexual Assault Laws in Canada


Responding to a Disclosure

  • Responding to someone who has been sexually violated

  • Supporting Children and Youth

  • Trauma-informed Response

  • Self-care

  • Scenarios


Choices Following Sexual Violence

  • Choices

  • Safety First

  • Seeking Medical Attention

  • Reporting to the Police

  • Being a Support Person


Exploring Sexual Consent

  • Consent Education is One Part of the Whole

  • Consent Is…

  • I Don’t Owe You

  • The Law and Consent

  • Consent and Alcohol and Drugs

  • Building a Consent Culture

  • No means No

  • Asking for Consent


Enhancing the Wellbeing of Support People

  • How Stress and Trauma Impact Support People

  • Self Care

  • Community Care

  • Build a Self Care Plan

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Indigenous Perspectives

  • Before We Begin...

  • Colonization, Cultural Genocide, and Indigenous Activism

  • Timeline

  • Understanding the Root Causes of Sexual Violence

  • Mi’kmaq Culture and Resilience

  • Pathways to Healing

  • Mi’kmaq Initiatives

  • Being an Ally

services
Articles about  Bystander Empowerment
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The Community Bystander Empowerment Program was made possible through a Prevention Innovation Fund Grant awarded to Autumn House by the Province of Nova Scotia through the Department of Community Services Sexual Violence Strategy. 

 

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