Commission on Human Rights
Workshop on November 29 will instruct on stopping sexual assault at universities and schools

An important workshop to instruct educators and parents on the U.S. Civil Rights Act Title IX and how it helps schools and universities stop sexual discrimination and assault on their campuses will be held one day before the 13^th Annual Ending Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Conference.

The preconference workshop, Beyond the Ball Court – Using Title IX to Stop Sexual Assault, is scheduled from 9 am to 4:30 p.m. (EST), on Tuesday, Nov. 29, at the Marriott Griffin Gate Resort in Lexington, Ky. The workshop is sponsored by the producers of the main conference, the Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs and the Kentucky Domestic Violence Association, along with the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights and the Kentucky Commission on Women. (The main conference begins the next day at the same location and will end Dec. 2.)

The pre-conference Title IX workshop will cover in detail the requirements of the law and strategies for keeping campuses safe. The U.S. Dept. of Education this year communicated with educational institutions about universities’ and schools’ obligations to students under Title IX of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits sexual discrimination, including harassment and assault. The department said schools must ensure there are prompt and equitable proceedings in sexual assault cases, that the preponderance of evidence standard is used, that proceedings remain confidential to the extent possible, that victims be given resources, that schools take affirmative steps to ensure staff and students are trained in sexual assault, and that the policies are transparent and accessible. The workshop will discuss enforcement and the importance of providing education and access to legal assistance for victims and students.  

The Principal Trainer is Colby Bruno, managing attorney of the Victims Rights Law Center in Boston, Mass. She has represented victims of sexual violence since 2003 in the areas of privacy, safety, housing, education, employment, housing and financial compensation. She has expertise in the representation of college students utilizing Title IX and other legal standards. She trains nationally on education rights of sexual assault victims. The workshop cost is $100 and provides opportunity for participants to earn 6.25 CLE Credits and 7 EILA Credits.

Contact Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs official Gretchen Hunt at ghunt@kasap.org or 502.226.2704. Or visit the website at www.KASAP.org for workshop and conference information and to register online.

The Kentucky Commission on Human Rights, a partner sponsoring the workshop, is the state government agency that enforces civil rights laws, which make discrimination illegal. Visit the commission website at www.kchr.ky.gov or call 1.800.292.5566 to get help to stop discrimination.

The Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs, Inc., is the statewide coalition of the 13 rape crisis centers in the Commonwealth. Its mission is to speak with a unified voice against sexual victimization. Call 502.226.2704 for information.

-30-