Online site set up to allow students to report on campus sexual assault

It launched today.

This article contains reference to rape and sexual assault. A new online system has been set up to allow for university and college students and staff to be able to report sexual assault on campus. Launching today, Speak Out allows students and staff alike to anonymously report any incidents that may occur, including bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, discrimination, hate crime, coercive behaviour or control, stalking, assault, sexual harassment, sexual assault and rape. Being introduced to 18 higher education institutions this academic year, Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris is delighted to have the "incredibly important initiative" rolled out, according to The Journal. "The creation of this innovative and supportive online platform will provide a safe and anonymous medium for students and staff to report incidents of bullying, assault or sexual violence in a trauma-informed environment," he said. Aiming for a "zero-tolerance culture" on these campuses, the initiative looks towards raising awareness and hopes for more people to come forward. The institutions rolling out this portal include Carlow Institute of Technology, Dublin City University, Dundalk Institute of Technology, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Institute of Technology Sligo, Munster Technological University, Maynooth University, NUI Galway, Royal College of Surgeons, Technological University Dublin, Technological University of the Shannon, University of Limerick and Waterford Institute of Technology. Letterkenny Institute of Technology, the National College of Art and Design, Trinity College Dublin and University College Cork will launch it later this year. Each institution is set to have its own URL to access the online system which can be used by students, staff and visitors. They will then be given a detailed account of what the tool is and a list of supports that are offered. A user will then tick a box under a list of questions that are relevant to what they are reporting, like when the incident took place, what form the behaviour took, and whether they have sought support, etc. With no open-ended questions, the user is then given a custom list of supports that cater for their specific situation.