WHITEHORSE:YUKON

The Whitehorse team provides sexual assault support, investigative, and prosecution services to the entire Yukon Territory, located in northern Canada. The Territory’s population is small and widely dispersed.

The Yukon government recognizes that there is a high rate of violence against women, and that women and girls are at higher risk for domestic violence and sexualized assault . Women’s groups, shelters, First Nations, NGOs, and government have been working together on a violence prevention and education campaign. Several of the Making a Difference Team members have, and continue to participate in these efforts.

NEWS:

April, 2012:
Sharing Common Ground.

Yukon Government Department of Justice and RCMP “M” Division are working to address recommendations made in Sharing Common Ground: A Review of Yukon’s Police Force. Recommendation 4.1 calls for the establishment of a comprehensive framework to address Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and should include:

■ The creation of an “M” Division domestic violence/abuse team with specialized training and skills;
■ Consideration of specialized prosecution services;

■ Clarification of the primary aggressor/dual charging protocols;

■ An update of the role of the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART);

■ Clarification of victim service responsibilities, including victim assistance volunteers;

■ Specialized training for “M” Division members and other front-line responders on sexualized assault and domestic violence that addresses child custody issues and the enforcement of civil order and other regulatory remedies;

■ Consideration of a legal advocate position to support women and/or a Yukon Court

The Yukon Sexual Assault Response Committee is working with the Sharing Common Ground Implementation team. We are part of an interagency working group that includes representatives from First Nations, women’s organizations and the Public Prosecutions Office.

Resource Document in the Works.

The Yukon Sexual Assault Response Committee is currently working on a comprehensive resource document for victims of sexualized violence that outlines available services, what the services deliver and what survivors can expect when they go to these services. It will also help survivors understand the order in which they should visit each of these vital resources. For example, where you should go after you go to hospital, to the women’s shelter, etc.

Yukon continues to work on sexual assault prevention education targeted at school age children and youth, initially focusing on the idea of consent. First order of learning: “No” means no and that non-consent can be expressed both in words and in body language.

Yukon Committee Working Hard to Get the Word Out.

The committee is working hard to increase awareness for the Yukon’s Kits on Ice Program so that more victims will seek out critical medical attention following the assault. Although the program has been in place for two years, many victims still don’t know that they can have a sexual assault examination done without having to involve the police. The fact that hospitals will keep the Kits on Ice for six months is something victims need to be aware of, should they decide to press charges.

EVENTS:

May, 2012:
Sexual Assault Prevention Month

The Yukon Sexual Assault Response Committee is in the planning process for a May event centered on Sexual Assault Prevention Month.

Victoria Faulkner Women's Centre, Kaushee's Place and Les EsseniElles created a high-profile campaign on “Consent and Resistance” to raise awareness around sexualized violence for 2011 Sexual Assault Prevention Month. This campaign addresses the all to common “she asked for it” defense that is often used in the Justice system, media and public. Any questions regarding this campaign, contact Renee-Claude Carrier or Julianna Scramstad at Victoria Faulkner Womens' Centre.

Resistance Campaign 2011

INITIATIVES:

2012:
The Sexual Assault Response Committee is working toward the following goals:

2011 Initiatives

TEAM MEMBERS:

CONTACT: