Cadet Harassment and Abuse Prevention Program

• Harassment and abuse can happen to any youth, anywhere (school, sports field, summer training camp, at home, hockey practice, etc.)

• Policy of DND: to ensure a respectful, harassment-free and safe learning environment for cadets

• Legal obligation to report suspected youth abuse (Provincial/Territorial Child Protection laws)

CHAP Program Rationale

Staff Training Session

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Cadet Harassment and Abuse Prevention Program

Cadet Harassment and Abuse Prevention Program

Roles and responsibilities ofCHAP playersRoles and responsibilities ofCHAP playersPlayersMaster Trainers

Unit HumanRights Advisors

Other Adults in

Cadets

Roletrainer for UHRA

advisor

trainer

advisor

model appropriate behaviour

take this module

participant

Responsibilitiestake an intensive training program on

CHAPdeliver 2-day Human Rights Advisor

Courseact as centre of expertise on CHAP

program for the UHRAs in the region

deliver this module to staffdeliver the parents module on CHAPdeliver CHAP to cadets at LHQadvise cadets/the chain of command

on harassment and abuse

take action/seek advice of UHRAwhen aware of harassment or abuse

understand their rights andresponsibilities with respect toharassment and abuse

Staff Training Session

CCM

2

Cadet Harassment and Abuse Prevention Program

Agenda

• Introduction to harassment and abuse• Discipline vs. abuse• Dealing with disclosures• Risk reduction: protecting yourself• Understanding consent

Staff Training Session

3

Cadet Harassment and Abuse Prevention Program

Cadet Harassment and Abuse Prevention Program

Harassment vs . Abuse

HARASSMENT

Adult

HARASSMENT

Adult, older youth or

youth in a position of authority

ABUSE

or

Adult

or

or or or

Cadetor

Cadetor

Cadet(minor)

or

Staff Training Session

4

Cadet Harassment and Abuse Prevention Program

The Canadian Human Rights Act:prohibited grounds of discrimination

• race• national or ethnic origin• colour• religion• age• sex

• marital status• family status• disability• pardoned conviction • sexual orientation

Staff Training Session

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Cadet Harassment and Abuse Prevention Program

IMPACT NOT

INTENT

Staff Training Session

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Cadet Harassment and Abuse Prevention Program

Non-contact sexual abuse

Examples:

• Shown sexual videos or pornography• Forced to listen to sexual talk, obscene phone calls• Forced to pose for seductive or sexual photographs• Forced to look at sexual parts of the body (e.g., genitals, buttocks, anus, breasts)• Forced to watch sexual acts• Objectified and ridiculed about sexual body parts• Intrusive questions, comments or sexual nature• Object of voyeurism e.g., watching a cadet shower

Staff Training Session

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Cadet Harassment and Abuse Prevention Program

Contact sexual abuse

Examples:

• Touched in sexual areas• Forced to touch another’s sexual areas• Kissed or held in a sexual manner• Forced to perform sex

Staff Training Session

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Cadet Harassment and Abuse Prevention Program

Consequences

• 30% of all sexual assaults in Canada are committed by teenagers.*• If your actions do not conform to

• the standard of behavior expected of a cadet,• the Canadian Human Rights Act, or• the law,

there will be disciplinary and/or legal consequences.

Staff Training Session

*Bagley Report, 1994

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Cadet Harassment and Abuse Prevention Program

Examples of sanctions

• verbal apology• written apology• letter of reprimand• referral to counseling• reduction in rank• expulsion from working with cadets• criminal charges• imprisonment

Staff Training Session

*Bagley Report, 1994

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Cadet Harassment and Abuse Prevention Program

Responsibilities of leaders

• must use that power responsibly and with respect for others• must be positive role models for cadets, • must set an example• must ensure an harassment-free and safe environment• must intervene and report incidents of harassment or abuse according to CCM policy• must take care of cadets and discipline them, when warranted

Staff Training Session

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Cadet Harassment and Abuse Prevention Program

Discipline vs. Abuse

Discipline• is related to misbehaviour• only deals with the misbehaviour

• does not humiliate• is thoughtful• represents no threat to

youth’s well-being • uses action

Abuse• is not related to behaviour• attacks self-esteem: “You’re bad, stupid, worthless, no good…”• humiliates• is impulsive• is more severe than warranted• uses force

Staff Training Session

Fairholm, Hearing the Hurt, 1997

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Cadet Harassment and Abuse Prevention Program

Discipline vs. Abuse (cont.)

Discipline• Means youth accepts responsibility for youth’s actions• Is based on equality and respect• Encourages youth to problem-solve• Demonstrates caring• Teaches good behaviour

Abuse• Means adult takes responsibility for youth’s action• Is based on superior/ dominance control• Assumes only adults can solve youth’s problems• Demonstrates hostility• Destroys

Staff Training Session

Fairholm, Hearing the Hurt, 1997

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Cadet Harassment and Abuse Prevention Program

The Issue of Consent

Consent is…• active not passive: words and body language say “Yes”• based on choice: both have power to say “No”• not manipulated: no pleading, no guilt feelings• not coerced: no imbalance of power• not submission due to fear: no threats• freely given: it is an individual’s choice

Staff Training Session

Fairholm, Hearing the Hurt, 1997

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Cadet Harassment and Abuse Prevention Program

• The main message for staff is that harassment incidents should be dealt with internally, informally, where appropriate, at the lowest level possible, by the CCM, while abuse incidents must be reported externally to the local Child Protection Agency. Staff should consult the UHRA who will know the correct procedures to follow.

• Always remember that, when considering your actions, it is the impact and not the intent that matters most.

Staff Training Session

Wrap-Up

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