To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:
WHEREAS there were 1,326 cases of sexual assault in 2022 withdrawn or stayed before trial;
WHEREAS there were more than 12,156 cases of sexual assault reported in Ontario in 2022 yet more than 80% of sexual assault cases go unreported;
WHEREAS the criminal court system is an extremely hostile space for survivors and justice is often delayed or denied;
WHEREAS the 2019 Auditor General report made recommendations to proactively report on sexual assault cases and intimate partner violence cases through the court system and capture reasons for cases being stayed and withdrawn before trial;
WHEREAS the Independent Legal Advice (ILA) Program is insufficient in meeting survivors’ needs;
WHEREAS the Victim Quick Response Program is restrictive and unsustainable to long-term healing;
Therefore, we the undersigned petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to adopt Recommendations 1 and 3 of the Auditor General’s 2019 Annual Report; and to make the ILA program more accessible to survivors; and to review the Victim Quick Response Program to ensure it is meeting its mandate.
Download a copy of this petition here.
Access a copy of the 2019 Auditor General's report here.