Statement on Title IX, Sexual Assault and Misconduct
The cultural and legal context surrounding Title IX issues in host countries may be different from what students are used to in the U.S. Many behaviors considered to be harassing or discriminatory in the U.S. may be more common, or even socially tolerated, in other countries. While many U.S. institutions have developed sophisticated structures of support and judicial process surrounding sexual and interpersonal misconduct, universities abroad are generally less involved at an administrative level. Although TEAN cannot control the local environment, TEAN staff will do as much as possible to support students as they navigate through this unfamiliar territory. TEAN strives to provide relevant resources onsite and works collaboratively with students’ home universities to provide additional remote support.
In the case of sexual assault or sexual misconduct, TEAN strives to empower its student participants and support their rights as much as possible. In some instances, students’ home institutions may require TEAN to report Title IX incidents to designated officials at their home institutions, including the names of those involved. In these cases, the home institution may launch a judicial process to adjudicate the alleged assault or misconduct. Upon learning of an incident of sexual assault or misconduct, TEAN may need to share some details with other program participants to protect their safety. TEAN will make every effort to do so while upholding the confidentiality of the reporting individual and others who may be involved.
TEAN strongly recommends that any program participant who experiences a sexual assault or incident of harassment communicate with a trusted friend or family member for emotional support and report the incident to TEAN onsite staff. If the student does not wish to discuss the incident directly with TEAN, we urge them to contact the local U.S. embassy or consulate for assistance. The embassy/consulate can provide a list of trustworthy medical facilities and other local resources. For more information about U.S. State Department resources, visit the website.
Additionally, a student’s home university likely has an extensive web page devoted to Title IX violations and resources, and likely has a list of trained advisors who are equipped to provide resources and support.
