Thanks to our numerous denunciations, the largest network of public schools in Quebec, the Commission scolaire de Montréal (CSDM), in 2018 adopted the very first intervention protocols on sexualized behavior and sexual violence in schools. . In addition, since March 9, the National Assembly unanimously adopted a motion presented by the former Member of Parliament for Marie-Victorin and Mayor of Longueuil, Catherine Fournier, which opens the door to the creation of a framework law to prevent sexual violence in primary and secondary schools.
The motion was presented jointly with you, the Minister of Education, Jean François Roberge; the MP for Saint-Laurent, Marwah Rizqy; the member for Sherbrooke, Christine Labrie; the member for Joliette, Véronique Hivon; and the member for Chomedey, Guy Ouellette. Recently, a bill (n ° 394) was even tabled on October 21 by Christine Labrie, Member of Parliament for Sherbrooke, in order to follow up on this motion.
For too long, the youth collective “The voice of young people counts” has been mobilizing to allow all young people in Quebec to be educated in safe, fair and violence-free establishments, which is necessary considering that we are passing the majority of our time at school. This is our second home.
However, as we write these lines, several aggressors are circulating all around us with impunity. They constantly reoffend, kill several people and everyone is witness to it. We have to do more than just change them schools, or even outright deny what happened.
After denouncing and enumerating the multiple forms of sexual violence experienced or witnessed, we united to end sexual violence in our primary and secondary schools.
We have expressed and explained many times how difficult sexual violence is to denounce. Following years of work, mobilization, reflections, ups and downs, discouragement, tears of joy and sorrow, we persevered because we know that young people from all over Quebec are watching us and impatiently waiting for us to you, Jean-François Roberge, Minister of Education, former teacher and school principal, made the decision to protect us.
What is really sad is that we, in our daily lives, we see our peers deteriorate in front of our eyes for lack of adequate services. This is why we are so keen to see the law passed; it is a source of hope for all young people.
Although this is a hard truth to hear, this violence occurs daily in our schools.
We spent a lot of time thinking, writing with emotion, thinking of our peers when we made the recommendations that are found today in Bill 394.
We want trained school teams, resources and clear policies, because we must protect those who denounce as well as all the other students who are just as much at risk of experiencing this violence. It is also important to have resource personnel trained and present every day to meet our needs, because when our peers want to report, they cannot wait indefinitely on a waiting list.
Exhausted, but full of hope
In all honesty, we are exhausted from fighting, exhausted from carrying the wounds of our peers within us, especially since not everyone has the strength to denounce.
Nevertheless, we remain hopeful thanks to our recent meeting with one of our greatest sources of inspiration, Tarana Burke, instigator of the international #metoo movement. She paved the way for us and it is for all the victims as well as for all the young people that we have created our own movement: #MeTooScolaire.
We believe that despite our long wait, the passage of the law will be a gesture of empathy for all the victims who have not been heard until today, that it will be a gesture of protection. , listening and repairing for generations to come. This was the very essence of the motion adopted unanimously on March 9 by the National Assembly, to which you yourself gave your support.
More than ever, we need your support so that together, we can help Quebec grow towards a future free from sexual violence. Isn’t this what we want as a social project?
It is with our hearts of children, young teens, young adults, that we ask you, Mr. Minister, to believe us, to listen to us, to support us and to protect us because the voice of young people also counts. .
On behalf of all young people, take action!
* Co-signer: Tarana Burke, founder of the international #metoo movement
* “The voice of young people counts” is a youth collective, recipient of the YMCA Quebec peace medal, composed mainly of young women aged 15 to 21 who have been mobilizing for more than four years against sexual violence in schools , because it is a key place to educate and prevent young people.
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