The State of Youth Report is a Critical Opportunity for Engagement on Campus Gender-Based Violence

Post-secondary students deserve learning and working environments that are inclusive and supportive of each individual’s right to live free from harm. Unfortunately, many students are subjected to gender-based violence (GBV) on campuses across Canada. Whether it's physical, emotional, sexual, or psychological violence, the issue of GBV on campuses is all too real, and it affects students of all genders and backgrounds.

Students and youth across the country have impacted meaningful change on campus GBV in recent years. From Our Campus, Our Safety to Consent Awareness Week, the student voice has been loud and authoritative on the need for action to address GBV on post-secondary campuses. It’s time to bring this issue back to the forefront. 

If you are between the ages of 16 and 29 and care about issues affecting young people in Canada today, we encourage you to share your insights with the Government of Canada. Until March 16, 2025, you can complete the State of Youth Survey, created by the Department of Canadian Heritage.

The first edition of the State of Youth report, produced in 2021, generated valuable policy outcomes for the issues raised by participating youth.

If you have been impacted by sexual harassment or violence on campus or in an experiential learning environment, your participation in this survey is a crucial opportunity to bring these issues to the attention of policymakers and stakeholders.

The data gathered through the State of Youth survey is more than just statistics. It’s a call to action. When policymakers understand the full extent of GBV in post-secondary learning and working opportunities, their knowledge and decisions have the power to make tangible change for students across the country. 

Join the Courage to Act Foundation team in completing the survey, sharing the report, and bringing attention to the critical issue of GBV in post-secondary learning spaces. Our safety matters, and together, we can shape learning environments where respect, equity, and justice are the baseline for education and innovation. 

If you have questions about the survey, email Florence Bergeron, Associate Director of Knowledge Mobilization at the Students Commission of Canada, at florence@studentscommission.ca.