Resources for young people aged 14-24

 (Music starts) 

 

(ON SCREEN TEXT: A city bus stops at a bus stop) 

 

[A person is sitting on the bus. Behind them is a person standing over and shouting at a seated passenger.] 

 

Have you ever seen something that didn’t feel right… and stayed quiet because you didn’t know what to do? 

 

[The bystander looks over their shoulder at the arguing passengers. A sharp burst graphic appears behind their head.] 

 

[ON SCREEN TEXT: It's not just a joke] 

 

[ON SCREEN TEXT: It’s not just a bad day] 

 

[A person looking over another person’s shoulder while they look at their phone. A person grabbing onto another person’s wrist. A person yelling at another person.] 

 

Gender-based violence isn’t “just a joke” or someone “having a bad day.” It can happen right in front of you — in a hallway, at a party, even online. 

 

[ON SCREEN TEXT: Gender-based violence] 

 

[ON SCREEN TEXT: GBV. When someone is harmed or controlled because of their gender, how they express it, or how others see it.] 

 

[The person yelling at another person reappears. The person grabbing onto another person’s wrist reappears. The person looking over the shoulder of another person while they look at their phone reappears.] 

 

[The bystander sits on a bus. The person standing over and shouting at a seated passenger in the background reappears.] 

 

Gender-based violence, or GBV, is when someone is harmed or controlled because of their gender, how they express it, or how others see it. ‘GBV can take many forms, and you’ve probably seen it before. 

 

[The bystander sitting on the bus looks back over their shoulder.] 

 

But maybe you didn’t know it was GBV.  

 

Chances are you didn’t know what you could do, and that’s okay. 

 

[The bystander looks over their shoulder. A thought bubble with an exclamation mark appears. The bystander puts a hand to their chin, and we see the shouting passenger behind them while the seated passenger puts their face in their hands.] 

 

These situations are complicated, and there isn't just one way to help - you can choose how to respond in a way that also prioritizes everyone’s safety, including yours.   

 

[A side view of the bystander and the arguing passengers on the bus.] 

 

If you witness abuse, here’s what you can do: 

 

[ON SCREEN TEXT: Recognize it. Seek support. Take action.] 

 

[The bystander looks back at the arguing passengers with a hand on their chin. A thought bubble with a question mark in it appears over their head.] 

 

Before you respond, consider which approach is appropriate to the situation and what feels safest. You could do one, two or all three. 

 

Here are a few examples of what this might look like. 

 

[ON SCREEN TEXT: Recognize it] 

 

One response would be to recognize it. 

 

[The bystander talks directly to the passenger who was yelled at. A speech bubble appears with a question mark inside it.] 

 

[ON SCREEN TEXT: Delay] 

 

This could look like delaying, checking in with the person after the incident to see if they’re ok. 

 

[A close-up of hands holding a smartphone appears. The words “05/26 #11 bus 9:38 am. Couple was arguing loudly and then the man got up […]” appear on the phone screen.] 

 

[ON SCREEN TEXT: Document] 

 

Or maybe you feel more comfortable documenting by writing down the details of what happened to help the survivor keep a record. 

 

[ON SCREEN TEXT: Seek support] 

 

You can also seek support. 

 

[The bystander talks with the bus driver.] 

 

[ON SCREEN TEXT: Delegate] 

 

This might look like delegating: asking somebody in an authority position – like a bus driver – for help. 

 

[ON SCREEN TEXT: Take action] 

 

[The bystander talks to both of the arguing passengers. They point at their phone. A location icon is shown above the phone.] 

 

[ON SCREEN TEXT: Distract] 

 

Finally, you could respond by taking action but only if it is safe to do so. This may look like distracting those involved, by asking an unrelated question, like directions. 

 

[The bystander and two other bystander passengers approach the passenger who was shouting. A speech bubble with an exclamation mark in it appears from the bystander.] 

 

[ON SCREEN TEXT: Direct] 

 

Or it could be a more direct approach. 

 

[A city bus drives away from a bus stop.] 

 

[ON SCREEN TEXT: Recognize it. Seek support. Take action.] 

 

Depending on your comfort level and how safe you feel, remember that you can do one, two or all three; recognize it, seek support, take action. 

 

[The passenger who was yelled at sits alone on the bus.] 

 

[ON SCREEN TEXT: Learn more about how to be an ally Canada.ca/ItsNotJust] 

 

These responses may look different depending on the situation, but by choosing to act, even in a small way, you can support those who need it most and help put an end to gender-based violence. 

 

[The Government of Canada logo appears.]