April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). Last year for SAAM we highlighted our work to advocate to the provincial government and shared all the reasons it is important, to develop a sexual violence policy. We continue to advocate for this important unifying policy, but we also see progress over the past year that gives us hope for positive changes that could increase justice for survivors, raise awareness and increase safety — including a commitment by the province to create a policy. 

• In June 2025, Dr. Kim Stanton released her final report of a year-long independent review British Columbia Legal System’s Treatment of Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Violence.  

• Over the summer, the outcome of the Hockey Canada trial put a high-profile spotlight on many of the issues in Canada’s legal system’s treatment of sexual violence cases. 

• In the fall of 2025, the Ministry of Attorney General released an update on the Stanton Report that detailed actions being taken by the provincial government in response to the report, including a key priority to “…create a new comprehensive and coherent provincial policy framework…”. 

• As part of that update, the government announced plans for “stronger measures to address sexual violence at post-secondary schools” with a Sexual Violence Action Plan for post-secondary institutions. EVA BC is now: 

• • Supporting BC campuses to develop trauma-informed investigation guidelines 

• • Developing a sexual violence prevention education campaign for campuses across BC 

• In November 2025, the Federal Ombudsperson’s Rethinking Justice for Survivors of Sexual Assault: A Systemic Investigation report underlined the importance of specific changes to the legal system across the country to increase justice for survivors of sexual assault. 

• In November 2025, we highlighted sexual violence in our annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign 

• In December 2025, the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General of Canada introduced Bill C-16 Protecting Victims Act, which, if passed, would increase protections against sexual violence (among other legislative changes to increase safety).  

• And in March 2026, also in response to recommendations in the Stanton Report, the province amended the Intimate Images Protection Act, increasing the amount a survivor can seek in compensation for intimate image abuse. 

In the past year, EVA BC also rolled out training to support workers in the over 50 Sexual Assault Services (SAS) programs across BC and updated and published the Supporting Survivors of Sexual Violence handbook. 

If you or someone you know needs support, you can find support in your community through our Service Directory to find a Sexual Assault Services (SAS) or Community-Based Victim Services (CBVS) program.  

VictimLinkBC can also provide confidential support and information in over 150+ languages, help you with safety planning and guide you to find services and support in your community. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week across BC and Yukon by phone or text at 1-800-563-0808 or email 211-VictimLinkBC@uwbc.ca.