New legal support for sexual violence survivors
EDMONTON – Free legal advice is being provided to survivors of sexual violence to help on their path to healing and support greater access to the justice system.
The Government of Alberta provided a $700,000 grant to the Elizabeth Fry Society of Edmonton for the pilot program.
“For anyone who’s endured the trauma of a sexual assault, trying to figure out where to turn to for help can be scary and overwhelming,” said Danielle Larivee, Minister of Status of Women in a press-release. “Helping survivors of sexual violence understand their legal options is an important step in empowering them to move forward on their healing journey. I’m grateful to the Elizabeth Fry Society and participating lawyers for their partnership in providing new legal resources to people who need those services the most.”
“For years, we have been hearing from survivors of sexual violence who have been sitting with their pain and suffering, not knowing what options are available to them or what they can do to move forward,” said Toni Sinclair, executive director, Elizabeth Fry Society of Edmonton in the same press-release. “This program is about providing legal advice from a rights-based approach, and we hope to help as many folks as possible who have experienced sexual violence. We continue to be amazed by their courage and bravery.”