TEMPLATE LETTER

Date

Dear President & Vice-Chancellor,

As a member of your university community, I am writing to urge you to sign the pledge promoted by the Can’t Buy My Silence campaign to stop using non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in complaints of sexual harassment, bullying, discrimination and other misconduct.

Here is the pledge text for your information:

“(W)e [our vice-chancellor and higher education provider] commit to not using Non-Disclosure Agreements to silence people who come forward to raise complaints of sexual harassment, abuse or misconduct, or other forms of harassment and bullying.”

The extensive use of NDAs at all stages of university complaints processes — whether as a requirement to lodge a complaint, a prerequisite to mediation, a requirement for complainants to view their decisions, or as an outcome of settlement — is well-established.

This practice is unnecessary and immoral. Victims often seek and deserve confidentiality, but they should not be permanently gagged from speaking about their experiences, nor be forced to agree to protect the offender in exchange for their own privacy. The use of NDAs allows perpetrators to continue to harm others, either at their own university or at others. It also chills the climate for anyone who might wish to bring a complaint, knowing they will likely face a demand to sign an NDA at some stage of the process.

To learn more about the use of NDAs in cases of harassment, discrimination and abuse, please visit https://www.cantbuymysilence.com, where you will find a wealth of information and research.

Please make me feel safe and be proud of my university/college by joining others who have signed the Pledge and being publicly registered as an institution that will not use NDAs. This demonstrates your commitment to protecting our students, faculty, and staff, and to creating a safe and open learning environment.

Respectfully,

<Insert Name>