Quebec lawmakers push bill to combat sexual violence in schools

A new bill tabled in Quebec aims to combat sexual violence in the province’s schools.

“School needs to be a safe place for students, they need to be able to confide in [their educators] and get help quickly,” says Christine Labrie, Quebec Solidaire’s education critic.

If passed, the bill would force schools at all levels, in both the public and private systems, to adopt a policy to combat sexual violence. 

"More than half of the victims of sexual offenses recorded by the police are minors," said Labrie at a Montreal press conference Sunday.

“School is sometimes the only safe place a victim goes to," she said. "The forms of sexual violence that young people can experience are numerous: sexual abuse at home, intimate photos shared by classmates, violence linked to sexuality or identity, etcetera. School workers must be better equipped."