Advocates say a new bill before the Manitoba legislature could have a big impact on the relationship survivors of domestic violence have with the court system.
The bill, which may not pass before the Nov. 7 end of the legislature session, would require continuing education for new provincial court judges on topics like intimate partner violence, sexual assault, systemic racism and other topics.
Coral Kendel, executive director at Survivor’s Hope Crisis Centre, told Global Winnipeg any type of further education on the subject is key to making meaningful change.
“Any time we see further education happening, especially in different large systems, it’s incredibly encouraging to see how this can continually impact survivors to receive better care at all levels, and especially to reduce the significant recurrence of harm that can occur when they are interacting with systems,” Kendel said.
“Especially if individuals who are meant to be supporting survivors and working at their best interests are not trauma-informed about what their experiences could look like, what it could sound like, what it could feel like.”
Kendel said people who experience intimate partner violence can have a long and arduous experience through the court system, and those making legal decisions may not fully grasp the type of impact these situations can have on a survivor’s entire life.
“There’s a huge disruption to their entire family system and potentially their worldview in ways that is long-lasting and really impactful for potentially the rest of their lives,” Kendle said.
“It’s not as much of kind of a one-time incident that can be easy to overcome, but really impacts them, not just physically — if there was a physical assault involved — but also mentally, emotionally, physiologically and spiritually in ways that victim impact statements are giving folks the opportunity to address.”
Many survivors, Kendel said, can experience a drawn-out trial process that could last for years, and are made to continually relive their experience, and not necessarily receive any closure.
“(There are) potentially a number of years where they have to repeat themselves, revisit it, relive it, and anticipate that date… only sometimes to find in the end that the case is thrown out for whatever reason, and they’re not able to give a voice to their experience and have it seen in court.
“With further education, there’s the potential we could see a difference, if it’s really understood how impactful these crimes are and how important it is for all levels of our justice system to take them very seriously, to get the best information possible, to prosecute those who are performing these acts.”
The bill is based on one originally proposed in April by Liberal MLA Cindy Lamoureux, and although that bill wasn’t passed, the governing NDP have drawn up their own, similar piece of legislation, which has Lamoureux’s support.
Permanent funding for the education is included in Wednesday’s bill, which also includes a focus on the experience Indigenous Manitobans and members of the LGBTQ2 community have within the justice system.
“Folks know that overrepresentation of Indigenous people in our (justice system) is a focus of our government,” Justice Minister Matt Wiebe said Wednesday.
— with files from The Canadian Press
