Australia’s Hidden Hunting Ground: Facing Sexual Assault & Rape Culture On Campus
The Hunting Ground Australia Project will work in consultation with the Australian university sector and the National Union of Students (NUS) in conjunction with the Respect. Now. Always. initiative – Writes Tara Watson
A national campaign against sexual assault, victim blaming and rape culture is being launched this week, in conjunction with screenings of the acclaimed US feature documentary film The Hunting Ground to be shown across Australian universities.
The film chronicles the personal stories of students who have reported sexual assault on campuses, presenting damning evidence of the failure of a number of American universities to respond and protect victims.
Despite some of the cultural, financial and structural differences between American and Australian universities – such as the separation between independently run colleges and universities – several of the issues raised by the film are relevant in an Australian context.
The key difference with Australia is that there are significant gaps in statistical information available around the prevalence of sexual assault in Australian universities. Therefore any catalyst for systematic change has been stagnated by a lack of empirical research and openly available data.
The ‘Hunting Ground Australia Project’ will work in consultation with the Australian university sector and the National Union of Students (NUS) in conjunction with the Respect. Now. Always. initiative to address Australia’s own issues surrounding sexual assault, victim blaming and rape culture.
The documentary was made by Oscar-nominated and Emmy Award-winning filmmakers Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering, the same duo responsible for the revealing industry-changing The Invisible War.
Speaking about Australia’s reaction to the movie, producer Amy Ziering said,
“We’re thrilled that our film, The Hunting Ground, is being released in Australia. We are impressed and heartened by the leadership role that Australian universities are taking on these issues – and hope that their efforts will inspire their global peers to demonstrate similar moral courage and follow suit”
Lady Gaga‘s recent performance at the Academy Awards, performing the song ‘Til It Happen To You’ was written for The Hunting Ground. The emotional tribute had victims of college sexual assault taking the stage with Gaga, inscribed with messages of hope and survival on their arms. If you haven’t seen it yet, STOP what you’re doing and watch it right now below.
https://twitter.com/LGMonsterFacts/status/704158722688352257
The Australian campaign will begin with a screening program of the film across Australian universities, starting this week. In a partnership with the Australian Human Rights Commission and the Australian Human Rights Centre, a national survey tool will be developed on the prevalence of and institutional responses to sexual harassment and sexual assault in Australian universities.
The Australian Human Rights Centre is also undertaking a research project, ‘Strengthening Australian Universities’ Responses to Sexual Assault and Harassment’, to develop a model protocol and policy framework for universities.
Tonight @ACMI are screening 'The Hunting Ground', an eposé on sexual harassment culture. Inc a panel with @VCdeakin: https://t.co/9ytaxR6uFY
— Deakin University (@Deakin) March 2, 2016
Director of the Australian Human Rights Centre, Andrea Durbach said:
“Given the concerning statistics on violence against women in this country, it’s not completely out of the question that these stats might be replicated to some degree at tertiary institutions,”
“At the very least The Hunting Ground and the work of the National Union of Students has triggered the need to do the research to see if that is the case and how we can start to remedy deficient reporting processes and ensure effective and appropriate redress.”
With no official survey recently conducted, most of the known statistics on sexual assault in universities have been gathered by the National Union of Students(NUS).
Last year NUS ran a nationwide survey of female students which found over 70 percent of women said that they had experienced some form of unwanted sexual encounter at university and that the majority of these individuals said that the response they received from their university and or the police was inadequate.
Just moderated a panel of speakers after a screening of #TheHuntingGround. Young man approaches after and demands to know if I hate men.
— Clementine Ford (@clementine_ford) February 29, 2016
That he could sit through that distressing documentary and be primarily concerned with whether or not I am a "man-hater" is astonishing.
— Clementine Ford (@clementine_ford) February 29, 2016
In the United States, more than 120 colleges are under federal investigation for their insufficient response to rape and assault on their campuses.
As part of ‘The Hunting Ground Australia Project’ training resources in sexual ethics, consent and bystander strategies will be developed with national experts in sexual assault prevention education.
These programs will be available to universities for both staff and student training.
“Administrators and staff from many Australian universities have recognised the important opportunity the film offers to continue a conversation about sexual violence by scheduling screenings early in the 2016 academic year. We encourage all tertiary institutions and interested community groups to screen the film and engage with The Hunting Ground Australia Project,” said the Project’s Impact Producer Allison Henry.
The need for university student specific research is further compounded by last year’s study by anti-violence group, The Line which revealed that one in four 12- to 24-year-olds did not think it was serious if a man who is normally gentle slaps his girlfriend while he is drunk. Also finding that one in six thought women should “know their place” and one in four thought it was normal for men to pressure women into sex.
The Hunting Ground was one of six documentary films selected for the 2015 philanthropic Good Pitch2 Australia initiative held at the Sydney Opera House. The film will be screening tonight at ACMI, along with a panel discussion, visit the website for tickets. For anyone interested in hosting a community screening of the film, they can register their interest via The Hunting Ground Australia Project website.