RLC’s International Student Legal Service NSW helps with issues pertinent to international students—housing problems, visas, and employment. But recently, their international student solicitor Sean Stimson has noticed a distressing pattern.
“We started to see [international students] coming through to us and they weren’t characterising their real concern,” he explains. “... at the core of their problems, were other issues.” According to Stimson, many international students seen by Redfern legal centre were reluctant to seek advice and information on support services available to survivors of sexual harassment and assault.
"We tried to create a resource that was in very plain language, and that was culturally sensitive,” says Sean Stimson.
Available in 11 different languages, Your Body, Your Choice is designed to be a “one-stop” guide explaining firstly, the rights and legal terminology surrounding assault and consent, secondly, the counselling services available, and thirdly, medical and legal support, and reporting mechanisms.
The resource highlights that “anyone, including international students and visitors, can receive help and support from these services,” and that “being a victim of a crime will not affect your visa or employment status”.
Read the full article here. (Lena Wang, Honi Soit, October 12, 2018)
