Systemic Advocacy – Declaration of IPV as an Epidemic @ Queen’s Park
On November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, Your Way Forward attended Queen’s Park and, alongside sister clinic colleagues, called for the Ontario government to declare intimate partner violence as an epidemic. Michelle Choe, YWF staff lawyer at Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario, and Samira Ahmed, staff lawyer at Justice for Children and Youth, stated that such a declaration would support our advocacy and improve outcomes for survivors, ensuring that their safety and legal issues are dealt with appropriately, with greater awareness, sensitivity and urgency.
While the Bill remains at the Justice Committee, we are committed to continuing to pushing for its passing. Comprising of only fifteen words, Bill 173 would profoundly strengthen survivors access to justice by compelling courts, tribunals, and administrative bodies to consider intimate partner violence when reviewing the facts of a legal case.
