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37 Windsor Y.B. Access Just. 1 (2020-2021)

handle is hein.journals/windyrbaj37 and id is 1 raw text is: A Former Crown's Vision for Empowering Survivors of Sexual Violence Karen BellehumeurF Our method for combatting sexual violence in Canada is failing. Survivors of sexual violence have lost confidence in the criminal justice system as evidenced by the extremely low reporting rate to the police. While victims generally wish to hold perpetrators accountable, their reluctance to engage the criminal justice system is a clear indication that the cost (psychologically and emotionally) is too high. Survivors need more protection from re-traumatization and something must change in order to hold perpetrators accountable and deter sexual violence. In this article I propose a fully funded confidential trauma-informed model of victim representation for survivors of sexual violence to better protect their rights and facilitate equal access to justice. I find support for my proposed model by looking to systems of victim representation internationally, in the U.S. Military and in the International Criminal Court. Studies of these models demonstrate that they more meaningfully engage victims with the justice system and mitigate harm in various ways. I also demonstrate why the criticisms of these models are unwarranted. Finally I provide an analysis regarding equality rights under the Canadian Charter and outline why our current process is discriminatory and undermines the equality of women. I conclude that allowing legal representation offers overwhelming value and empowerment to survivors of sexual violence by improving their protection from harm and increasing their access to justice. Ifurther postulate that providing this support to survivors could increase the reporting rate for sexual violence and thereby contribute to reducing the rate of sexually offending with impunity. Notre fagon de lutter contre la violence sexuelle au Canada ne fonctionne pas. Les victimes de la violence sexuelle ont perdu confiance dans le syst me de justice pdnale, comme en tdmoigne le taux extremement faible de signalements a la police. Bien que les victimes souhaitent gdndralement que les auteurs de violence sexuelle soient tenus responsables de leurs actes, leur reticence a recourir au systdme de justice pdnale indique clairement que les couts (psychologiques et dmotionnels) sont trop dlevds. Les victimes ont besoin d'une protection accrue contre les nouveaux traumatismes, et quelque chose doit changer afin que les auteurs de violence sexuelle soient tenus responsables, ainsi que pour ddcourager la violence sexuelle. Dans le present article, je propose un modele de representation des victimes tenant compte des traumatismes, confidentiel et entikrement finance pour les victimes de la violence sexuelle, afin de mieux protdger leurs droits et faciliter un acc s dgal a la justice. Le modele que je propose s'appuie sur les syst mes de representation des victimes a l 'tranger, dans 1'armde amdricaine et a la Cour pdnale internationale. Les etudes de ces mod les ddmontrent que ceux-ci font participer les victimes de manikre plus * PhD Candidate, Western Faculty of Law, Human Rights Lawyer and former Crown counsel in London, Ontario. (2020) 37 Windsor Y B Access Just 1

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