June 24,2025
RED FM News Desk
An independent review of how victims of sexual and intimate partner violence are treated within British Columbia’s legal system is urging the provincial government to officially declare gender-based violence an epidemic.
The review highlights that most survivors do not report their abuse to the police, and those who do often face significant barriers to accessing justice. According to statistics, 80% of people who have experienced intimate partner violence and 94% of sexual assault survivors do not report the crimes. Additionally, more than one-third of women over the age of 15 in B.C. report having experienced sexual violence.
Attorney General Niki Sharma acknowledged that some victims avoid coming forward because they fear not being believed, being retraumatized, or being dismissed. This concern led the government to appoint Kim Stanton in May 2024 to lead the review.
Stanton’s findings revealed multiple obstacles that prevent effective action and include nine recommendations to better support survivors. These include increased emphasis on prevention, court reforms, and expanded legal aid funding for family law matters.
Stanton emphasized that meaningful change begins with implementing provincewide, age-appropriate consent education, providing early support for men who use violence before they enter the criminal justice system, and ensuring police and legal professionals receive training to address unconscious bias.
“My part of the work is finished,” Stanton said at a news conference on Tuesday, “and now it’s up to the attorney general and her team to follow the roadmap I’ve laid out and take action.”
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