We are so grateful to "Esther" for taking the time and energy to raise their voice and help us continue to learn what it means to be everyday advocates. To hear "Esther's" complete story, read the full email written to them by the head of safekeeping and such, check out their blog at www.overturningtables.co.uk

Esther has also recommended a couple of resources:

https://survivorsgateway.london/

https://safespacesenglandandwales.org.uk/

And if you'd like to support an organization that has helped "Esther" and many others, consider Rape Crisis England and Wales https://www.justgiving.com/page/rape-crisis

We are so grateful to Alexa for her time and wisdom. We sincerely hope this empowers survivors considering court with the info they need to navigate that space with a little less harm. And that we ALL grow in our awareness in order to strategically support survivors in their attempts to find justice.

Here's a link to the 278 project "Survivor Safety Matters":
www.survivorsafetymatters.ca

Here's a link to the document where Alexa and her team have clearly laid out a comparison between the charter rights of victims vs the accused and how well those rights are executed in the court system:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/12OKTkfJ9zmLfaQrcZd_wWAcRRXzYgaE4/view?usp=sharing

Here are the stats Alexa rattled off in case you want to take a closer look:
https://sexualassaultsupport.ca/statistics-sexual-violence-in-canada/

https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/services/benefits-military/conflict-misconduct/sexual-misconduct/training-educational-materials/myths-facts.html

EVERYDAY ACTIVISM:
Canadians, please sign this petition to endorse action be taken to change 278 (which gives the accused access to victim's private records like counseling records, journals and such):

Non-Canadians, here is a link to a petition you can sign to communicate the same thing to decision makers:

Follow the movement on Instagram (liking and sharing the content boosts the volume): https://www.instagram.com/survivor_safety_matters/

Know someone in the media, government or with a connection to sexual assault centres? Make an introduction to the Survivor Safety Matters team: https://www.survivorsafetymatters.ca/contact

This episode shares the story of a survivor who experienced abuse in two different industries and a traumatic trip through the court system. The story (and therefore episode) is long, but there are obvious breaks along the way to pace your own processing as you listen. The survivor, "Cassandra*" has been incredibly generous to provide the following show notes and access to communicate with her if you'd like.

RELATED ARTICLES:

"Cassandra’s" complaint to the Federal Ombudsperson for Victim’s of Crime (June 25, 2023)

Links to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights - review of Bill S-12 Publication Bans:

Oct 5, 2023

: Morrell Andrews refers to the “Cassandra” PB issue at 17:05:48-59 and she has powerful words about what we still face in the system at 17:06:50-17:07:34.
https://parlvu.parl.gc.ca/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20231005/-1/40002?mediaStartTime=20231005170218&mediaEndTime=20231005170905&viewMode=3&globalStreamId=14

Oct 17, 2023:

Dr. Ben Roebuck, the Federal Ombudsperson for Victims of Crime, presented at 17:04:10 to 17:04:41
– the part specifically about protecting therapeutic records and their plans for a systemic review.

https://parlvu.parl.gc.ca/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/10101/-1/40048?mediaStartTime=20231017170153&mediaEndTime=20231017170643&viewMode=3&globalStreamId=14

- the reference to Cassandra wishing she had known to speak to a lawyer before reporting to the police, which led to the defence subpoena of her records and her decision to stay the case:
https://parlvu.parl.gc.ca/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/10101/-1/40048?mediaStartTime=20231017172607&mediaEndTime=20231017172655&viewMode=3&globalStreamId=14

Victims of SA can get 4 hours of free Independent Legal Advice:
https://www.ontario.ca/page/independent-legal-advice-survivors-sexual-assault