16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that begins on November 25, the International Day to End Violence Against Women, includes December 6, the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in Canada where we honour the 14 women engineering students killed in Montreal in 1989, and runs until Human Rights Day on December 10.  

This year the international campaign is focused on digital violence and safety with the slogan: “There is #NoExcuse for online abuse.”

We encourage you to check out and follow the international campaign, but this year EVA BC puts the spotlight on sexual violence and highlights key issues that impact survivors of sexual violence and those who cause harm, along with some of the recent, promising developments that focus on ways we can improve response and prevention. Follow us on social media for the next 16 days to learn more and help raise awareness of the state of our systems for survivors of sexual violence: #RememberMe #EndSexualViolence. 

Facebook: EndViolenceBC  
X: EndViolenceBC
Instagram: endingviolencebc  
LinkedIn: ending-violence-association-of-bc/ 

Conversations on gender violence and 16 Days

You can also listen to a conversation with our executive director, Ninu Kang, on It’s Everyone’s Business: Conversations that move to action on gender violence airing on Vancouver Co-op Radio 100.5 FM at these dates and times:

• Friday, Nov 28 at noon
• Saturday, Nov 29 at 9 am
• Tuesday, Dec 2 at 1:30 pm
• Thursday, Dec 4 at 7 am
• Sunday, Dec 7 at 10 am
• Monday, Dec 8 at 4 pm

Reports and actions on improving sexual violence response 

This month, the Federal Ombudsperson for Victims of Crime released their report, Rethinking Justice for Survivors of Sexual Violence: A systemic investigation — the result of their 18-month investigation of the Canadian justice system with ten detailed recommendations to improve the justice system response to survivors of sexual violence. 

In 2024, BC’s Attorney General asked legal expert, Dr. Kim Stanton, to begin a systemic review of BC’s legal system’s treatment of intimate partner violence and sexual violence. And in June of this year, Dr. Stanton released her final report: Independent Systemic Review: The British Columbia Legal System’s Treatment of Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Violence. This report includes recommendations for improvements to systemic responses in BC for survivors, with increased accountability and a focus on coordination. 

At EVA BC we were pleased to see that Stanton’s report underlined our advocacy priority calling for the province to establish a provincial sexual violence policy that will unite all the ongoing efforts to improve responses to sexual violence in BC. Not having a unifying policy can lead to inequitable access to services and inconsistent responses to survivors. EVA BC has also been advocating for an update to the Violence Against Women in Relationship (VAWIR) policy first developed in 1993, that has been essential to integrating the work of those who respond to intimate partner violence across sectors. We need a similar provincial policy to streamline responses to sexual violence. We continue to work with partners in the provincial government to support action on Stanton’s recommendations for change. 

Other local promising initiatives 

• EVA BC launched regional training and a new Sexual Violence Worker Handbook to support the renewed Sexual Assault Services (SAS) programs and centres across BC. 

• This all the provincial Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Futural Skills proposed a provincial sexual violence policy act for campuses along with an action plan. 
• In 2023, EVA BC and BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre released their report, Changing Perceptions of Sexual Assault: Research Findings and Recommendations for Improving the Healthcare Response.  

Data on sexual violence 

Rates of sexual assault in British Columbia and Canada have drastically increased. Between 2013 and 2023, our province saw yearly reported incidents of sexual assault jump from 2,707 to 4,458. The overall rate of sexual assault (level 1) in Canada increased by 51%, with sexual assault that included use of a weapon or bodily harm (level 2) increasing by 77% over the same period. In our country, 1 in 3 women experience sexual assault and roughly 4.7 million women have been sexually assaulted since age 15.  

We know that only six percent of survivors of sexual assault (15 years of age or older) report the assault to the police. There can be many reasons for a survivor choosing not to report this crime: stigma, not being believed, being blamed, shame and lack of confidence in the policing and justice systems. In fact, of cases that are reported, very few lead to a guilty finding. 

Accessing support 

Across BC, survivors of sexual assault can access supports through programs in the community, but not everyone knows how and where to find them.  

For anyone looking for support, there are programs in communities across BC, and you can find one closest to you in our service directory. You can also find confidential support across BC and Yukon and help with safety planning and services in your community in over 150+ languages, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at VictimLinkBC by phone or text at 1-800-563-0808, or by email to 211-victimlinkbc@uwbc.ca. 

Free legal advice 

The Community Legal Assistance Society (CLAS)’s Stand Informed program offers three hours of free and confidential legal advice to anyone in British Columbia who has been sexually assaulted.