UCalgary leads in Sexual Violence Prevention Programming for Sexual Violence Awareness Month

May is Sexual Violence Awareness Month, a time dedicated to fostering meaningful conversations about sexual violence awareness and prevention. While the month may be coming to an end, the issue of sexual violence remains prevalent in Canada — affecting one in three women and one in ten men in their lifetime.

According to Statistics Canada, 74% of victims in police-reported sexual assault cases in 2022 knew their perpetrator personally. This highlights the deeply interpersonal and complex nature of these incidents.

As part of Sexual Violence Awareness Month, the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Support Office (SGBVPSO) has played an active role in fostering dialogue and education around sexual violence prevention. 

Throughout May, the office hosted a series of educational workshops aimed at providing resources and sparking discussions surrounding topics that include:

• First Responders to Sexual Assault and Abuse Training™: Providing a supportive, positive first response to disclosures of sexual assault and abuse
• Supportive response training for those receiving disclosures of sexual and gender-based violence
• EmpowerU: Self-Defense for Everyone | A self-empowerment and boundary-setting workshop that redefines the meaning of self-defense

EmpowerU teaches both physical self-defense and verbal boundary-setting skills 

Self-defense classes have become increasingly popular in recent years, providing individuals with the confidence to better protect themselves in escalated scenarios. However, they often overlook a key concern: most sexual assault cases arise within interpersonal relationships.

EmpowerU: Self-Defense for Everyone recognizes this reality.

Paula Russel, manager of the SGBVPSO and one of the instructors for EmpowerU, explains that a lot of the skills from EmpowerU aren't meant for those huge, escalated scenarios, 

When someone pushing your boundaries is a friend, partner or loved one, traditional self-defense skills might not always apply (…) [EmpowerU] focuses on boundary-setting that is firm, yet still polite, while also navigating those interpersonal relationships.”

Unlike traditional self-defense classes, which can inadvertently place responsibility on victims, EmpowerU emphasizes that sexual violence is a societal problem rooted in oppression and that accountability lies solely with the perpetrator.

Through a series of interactive discussions, role-play scenarios and hands-on instruction, participants gain practical skills relevant not only for higher-risk situations but also for navigating interpersonal conflicts in everyday life.

Naomi Den Haan, a staff member from Student Wellness Services and recent participant, shares,

"I was pleasantly surprised by the incorporation of verbal boundary setting and conversations that you can adapt for your needs (...) it's designed to empower each person in a way that fits their real life."

UCalgary becomes the first Canadian institution to offer self-defense through empowerment training model

EmpowerU: Self-Defense for Everyone is currently only offered at Baylor University and University of Calgary, making UCalgary the only Canadian institution to offer this groundbreaking, trauma-informed programming, open to all students, faculty and staff.

Originally developed by Jiu-Jitsu brown belt and gender studies professor Rachel Piazza under the name Feminist Self-Defense, the workshop has since been branded at the University of Calgary as EmpowerU: Self-Defense for Everyone to be inclusive of individuals from all backgrounds.

Piazza has also created a train-the-trainer model to ensure the program can be sustainably delivered on campuses regularly. This approach broadens access to the program and also enables the programming to engage more individuals to learn about self-empowerment and self-protection strategies.

To continue raising awareness about sexual violence prevention and to provide accessible training opportunities on the matter, the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Support Office (SGBVPSO) will continue to offer year-round programming of EmpowerU: Self-Defense for Everyone.

For more information on registering for an upcoming EmpowerU training session, booking a workshop for a private group workshop or becoming a facilitator, please contact the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Support Office (SGBVPSO).