Provide Your Feedback on Policy 42

Trigger Warning: this article discusses gender-based and sexual violence. If you are struggling or in need of support, please visit WUSA’s For When You Need Support page. 

The University of Waterloo has released a new draft version of Policy 42 – Gender-based and Sexual Violence Alleged Against Students. You are invited to provide feedback on the proposed changes. This is your opportunity to influence how the University handles incidents of gender-based and sexual violence (GBSV) and help ensure our community is a safer, more inclusive space for everyone. 

You can send any questions, comments, or concerns to apstudents@uwaterloo.ca until July 11, 2025.  

What is Policy 42? 

Policy 42 is a vital framework that outlines how the University responds to gender-based and/or sexual violence when alleged against students. It ensures that students impacted by GBSV are aware of the support available, the procedures they can follow, and how the University works to create a safe campus environment rooted in respect and consent. 

Gender-based and sexual violence can take many forms. From harassment and stalking to assault and coercion, these acts are violations of consent and dignity. Policy 42 exists to make sure students feel supported, heard, and safe when navigating these extremely difficult experiences.  

What’s Changing? 

Policies like this directly affect student lives. When survivors of GBSV reach out for help, the processes they encounter can impact their mental health, academic success, and so much more.  

Some key changes being proposed include gender-based violence under the policy, a refined approach for addressing incidents off-campus and unrelated to university activities, and a change in decision-making authority. 

What is Gender-Based Violence and Sexual Violence? 

Gender-based violence is any harm or abuse that happens because of a person’s gender, their gender expression, or how others perceive their gender expression. It is often caused by unfair power differences between people who differ in sex, sexual orientation, gender and gender identity, gender expression, or perceived gender. It can take different forms, including physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, or other kinds of abuse.  

Sexual violence includes any sexual act targeting a person’s sexuality, gender identity, or gender expression that is committed, threatened, or attempted against someone without their consent. It can be physical or psychological in nature. Sexual violence includes sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, indecent exposure, coercion, voyeurism, sexual exploitation, intimate partner violence, technology-facilitated sexual violence, stealing, and any other form of unwanted conduct or comment of a sexual nature.  

The Policy 42 form allows students to report gender-based and/or sexual violence that was caused by a student. There are other reporting mechanisms for gender-based or sexual violence committed by an employer (Policy 33) or a staff or faculty at the University.  

Learn more about our work to combat gender-based and sexual violence on campus:  

• Gender-based and Sexual Violence – Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association 
• Gender-Based Sexual Violence Month Recap – Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association 
• From Awareness to Action: Preventing Sexual Violence on Campus – Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association 
• WUSA Incident Reporting: Updated Resources to Support Your Safety and Well-Being – Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association 
• Policy 42 – Prevention of and Response to Sexual Violence | Secretariat | University of Waterloo