EVA BC’s Director of Community Coordination for Survivor Safety (CCSS), Wendy Potter, was a guest speaker May 15 and 16 at a symposium in Williams Lake to raise awareness of sexual assault, human trafficking and sexual exploitation as part of Victims and Survivors of Crime Week.

Penny Stavast of Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Williams Lake organized and hosted an event that brought together regional service providers who support children, youth, women, and marginalized and vulnerable persons to discuss these issues, share their experiences, and identify opportunities to collaborate. 

Wendy presented on Third Party Reporting (TPR) with a focus on youth survivors.  TPR, an anonymous sexual assault reporting option in BC, requires additional considerations when supporting survivors under the age of 19.  There are many factors that can make situations involving youth survivors more complex including the legal age of consent, the ability for “mature minors” to consent to healthcare without permission from a parent/guardian, mandatory Ministry of Children and Family Development reporting requirements, and survivor confidentiality. 

For more information and training on TPR, contact ccss@endingviolence.org.  You can access more information about child and youth-based supports from community-based victim services through VictimLinkBC, and Child and Youth Advocacy Centres.  

To find services in your area of the province, see EVA BC’s service directory