As we approached election day on October 19, 2024, the Ending Violence Association of BC (EVA BC) called on all BC provincial parties to make the eradication of gender-based violence a priority for our province.
EVA BC is a dynamic, solutions-based provincial association dedicated to a society free from gender-based violence.
From our work in gender-based violence, we know that there is much work to be done.
Equity-deserving communities are targets for gender-based violence.
- Perpetrators target Indigenous women, women with disabilities, racialized women, 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, and young women ages 12 and 24 as these groups face significant systemic barriers in gaining access to support and justice.
There’s more to the story…
- Intimate partner homicides are the most preventable type of homicide.
- When the violent crime severity index across Canada rose in 2021 by 5%, that rate was largely driven by an increase in police-reported level one sexual assaults, which had increased in BC by 15%.
- From 2014 to 2022, there were large increases in intimate partner violence among adults aged 25 to 64 years (+32%) and seniors aged 65 years and older (+42%).
- During COVID, there was an increase in the number of incidents and severity of gender-based violence – and reduced access to services and supports.
- Survivors of gender-based violence indicate response and support systems are complex and challenging to navigate; they experience systemic barriers and discrimination; and these systems can sometimes cause re-victimization and further harm.
- 34,249 victims and survivors were helped by Victims Services and Violence Against Women programs funded by BC’s Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General in 2023.
- Implement BC’s first Provincial Sexual Violence Policy.
For over 30 years, the Violence Against Women in Relationships (VAWIR) Policy has created a path for more coordinated services and support systems responding to intimate partner violence. Now, with 70 new Sexual Assault Services programs and five new Sexual Assault Centres funded in the province, it is imperative that a Provincial Sexual Violence Policy guides an integrated and coordinated response to support survivor recovery, perpetrator accountability, and community safety. - Fund gender-based violence community coordination initiatives.
These initiatives include Intimate Partner Violence/Sexual Assault Coordination Committees, Third Party Reporting and Interagency Case Assessment Teams.
We know that coordinated, collaborative responses have the best chance of meeting the needs of survivors of gender-based violence. Community coordination initiatives that address sexual violence and intimate partner violence exist in many communities across BC. However, they need dedicated funding for anti-violence workers who work closely with community partners to implement, develop and sustain them. - Establish an Intimate Partner Violence Death Review Committee in BC.
There are models of Intimate Partner Violence Death Review committees across Canada that review and create opportunities for ongoing improvements in response systems to prevent future intimate partner violence-related deaths. BC must build on these existing, successful models and our own experience with Domestic Violence Death Review Panels to establish an ongoing Intimate Partner Violence Death Review Committee. The findings of this committee will be critical to understand the factors that contribute to intimate partner violence-related deaths, improve gender-based violence response systems, and prevent the loss of lives in BC.
Gender-based violence is an epidemic. The next BC government needs to work closely with the anti-violence sector to eradicate gender-based violence. EVA BC looks forward to supporting this important work.
Please connect with EVA BC for information about our data sources, additional context, or to learn more about gender-based violence.
