Sexual assault survivors in Ontario are expressing their anger and disappointment towards the provincial government over a new bill that aims to address intimate partner violence.
The bill, known as Bill 207, was introduced by the Progressive Conservative government in November 2020 and has been met with criticism from survivors and advocates alike.
According to the government, the bill aims to improve the justice system’s response to intimate partner violence by providing better support for survivors and holding perpetrators accountable.
However, many survivors and advocates argue that the bill falls short in addressing the root causes of intimate partner violence and fails to adequately support survivors.
One of the main concerns raised by survivors is the lack of consultation with those who have experienced intimate partner violence. Many feel that their voices and experiences were not taken into consideration when drafting the bill.
In addition, the bill has been criticized for not including any measures to address the systemic issues that contribute to intimate partner violence, such as poverty, housing insecurity, and access to mental health services.
Survivors and advocates also point out that the bill does not provide any new funding for support services for survivors, despite the increasing demand for these services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Furthermore, the bill has been criticized for not addressing the issue of consent in sexual assault cases. Many argue that the bill does not go far enough in defining consent and fails to address the power dynamics that often exist in intimate partner relationships.
In response to these criticisms, the government has stated that the bill is a step in the right direction and that they are committed to working with survivors and advocates to address their concerns.
However, many survivors and advocates feel that the government’s response is inadequate and are calling for significant changes to be made to the bill.
In the words of one survivor, “We need a bill that truly addresses the root causes of intimate partner violence and provides meaningful support for survivors. This bill falls short of that and it’s unacceptable.”
As the bill continues to make its way through the legislative process, it is clear that the voices and experiences of survivors must be taken into consideration in order to create effective and meaningful change in addressing intimate partner violence.
