1.2. What is the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office (SVPRO)?
The Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office – SVPRO – supports all members of the University of Waterloo campus community who have experienced, or been impacted by, sexual violence. They work with those who have experienced sexual violence, their supporters, those who have received a disclosure or witnessed sexual violence, as well as those who have caused harm or are alleged to have caused harm.
With consent from those they are supporting SVPRO will:
- Provide a safe(r) space for people to disclose – in as little or as much detail as they wish – about their experience
- Discuss resources, both on- and off-campus, that could provide further support or assistance, and provide referrals as directed by those with whom they are working
- Discuss short term coping strategies
- Collaborate with departments and units on campus to facilitate requests for academic and workplace accommodations, residence adjustments, safety planning, and other identified needs
- Provide information about complaint and reporting options via University of Waterloo policy and/or the police, should a survivor wish to hear about these options.
Reaching out to SVPRO does NOT automatically initiate a complaint, investigation or police involvement; however, if you wish to pursue a complaint, SVPRO can support you through the process.
To learn more about what it is like to meet with SVPRO, please watch this video:
(uwaterloo, 2020)
References
uwaterloo. (2020). UWaterloo HREI: Campus Resources [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBQqGJPU3_w&ab_channel=uwaterloo