Help Survivors Change the Law
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We're heading back to Ottawa!
After a long road, we're at the last push to amend section 486.4 of the Criminal Code on publication bans (check out our updates below to see what we've been up to). We're heading back to Ottawa in early October to meet with Parliamentarians, testify before the Justice Committee, and make one final push to improve Bill S-12. We'd love to have your support for our victims-turned-advocates who are travelling to Ottawa once again to advocate for change.
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Survivors of sexual violence deserve to tell their stories.
We are a group of sexual assault victims-turned-advocates, who had unwanted publication bans put on our names. This meant that as we sought justice in the legal system, and even after, we were barred from telling our own stories.
This is a reality for far too many victim-complainants seeking justice, and we are here to change it for all those who came before us, and those who will undoubtedly come after.
Our small and fierce group of sexual assault victim-complainants are coming to Ottawa from across Canada with a very simple message: let us tell our stories without the risk of prosecution.
During the first week of May, we will be traveling to Ottawa to meet with parliamentarians, media, and policymakers to advocate for amendments to section 486.4 of the Criminal Code. We will also witness the tabling in parliament of our petition , which garnered close to 5,000 signatures.
Like many victims-turned-advocates, we have been doing this work self-funded and in our spare time. This trip to Ottawa is a critical opportunity for us to build on our recent momentum, and ensure those responsible for changing laws hear directly from the people they impact. But we can’t do it alone.
We need your help to get to Ottawa to make our voices heard. Proceeds will be shared equally among advocates, and will cover:
Travel
Accommodation
Food
Supplies
Administration
Thank you so much in advance for supporting our work.
If you aren’t able to donate at this time, then please share our story with your community. If you are based in the National Capital Region and want to support us with material goods such as food and transit passes, then please contact: info@mv-mc.org
You can also write to your MP in support of our cause at: https://mailxto.com/pubbanemail
Want to know more about publication bans?
Publication bans under section 486.4 of the Criminal Code serve a critical function in protecting people, and they should remain available to those who choose to seek justice in anonymity. However, publication bans are regularly requested by Crown prosecutors in sexual assault cases long before they have had the opportunity to meet with a victim-complainant. A judge or justice has no discretionary power when a request is made, meaning the publication ban is immediately implemented and is permanent until a judge agrees to remove it. There are considerable issues concerning how victim-complainants are informed of these publication bans, if at all, and in how information is relayed to them about the application and requirements of complying and lifting the ban if desired. If victim-complainants breach their own publication bans, they face up to $5,000 in fines and up to two years in jail.
Learn more about our stories:
Fundraising team (4)
Elinor McNamee
Organizer
Toronto, ON
Kelly Favro
Team member
Jade Neilson
Team member
Carrie Low
Team member