Quebec tables its bill for a tribunal specializing in sexual violence
Quebec Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette presented his bill to create a tribunal specializing in sexual violence
Wednesday morning at the National Assembly.
Wednesday morning at the National Assembly.
He was accompanied by the Minister responsible for the Status of Women, Isabelle Charest.
Nearly one in three personal crimes is committed in a context of domestic violence , ”recalled the Minister of Justice at a press conference. We estimate that eight in ten sexual assaults in Canada go unreported to police. This is an intolerable reality. "
Hence the tabling of Bill 92, or an Act to create a specialized tribunal in matters of sexual violence and domestic violence and on the training of judges in these matters, of its full name.
This provides for the establishment of a division called Specialized Tribunal in matters of sexual violence and conjugal violence ”within the Criminal and Penal Division of the Court of Quebec.
We are obviously delighted to see that things are moving forward quickly, less than a year after the tabling of the Rebuilding Confidence report, ”rejoices Me Sophie Gagnon, General Manager of Juripop in an interview on Wednesday.
Nearly one in three personal crimes is committed in a context of domestic violence , ”recalled the Minister of Justice at a press conference. We estimate that eight in ten sexual assaults in Canada go unreported to police. This is an intolerable reality. "
Hence the tabling of Bill 92, or an Act to create a specialized tribunal in matters of sexual violence and domestic violence and on the training of judges in these matters, of its full name.
This provides for the establishment of a division called Specialized Tribunal in matters of sexual violence and conjugal violence ”within the Criminal and Penal Division of the Court of Quebec.
We are obviously delighted to see that things are moving forward quickly, less than a year after the tabling of the Rebuilding Confidence report, ”rejoices Me Sophie Gagnon, General Manager of Juripop in an interview on Wednesday.
I think we have really taken a step forward, and until now it corresponds quite well to what was requested by the various groups in the field, ”estimates the professor at the Department of Legal Sciences at UQAM Rachel Chagnon. .
Mandatory training for judgesIt is essential that people who file a complaint and take legal action feel listened to, supported, and above all safe, from the start to the end of the process, ”said Minister Jolin-Barrette. And to do this, a culture change is needed in the justice system ”.
The bill also entrusts the Judicial Council with the responsibility of establishing a training program on the realities relating to sexual violence and domestic violence ”for the benefit of the judges, who must undertake to follow this program. A measure that Me Gagnon considers essential since there is a lack of knowledge "among all stakeholders in the justice system in the matter, according to her.
A report on the implementation of the training program must be submitted to the Minister each year.
Details to come by regulationAs planned, the initiative will first take the form of a pilot project in this direction. Its implementation, as well as the types of proceedings that will be heard by the Specialized Tribunal, remain to be determined by regulation.
What we do not yet have in the bill, and this is normal at this stage, are the concrete details of what the specialized tribunal will understand, ”observes Mr. Gagnon. We are very anxious to have the details on the pilot projects that will be deployed across Quebec. "
Same story with Professor Chagnon. We understand that it is really in the regulations that we will find more of the substance of this future tribunal, ”she said in an interview with Isabelle Richer on RDI on Wednesday.
Mandatory training for judgesIt is essential that people who file a complaint and take legal action feel listened to, supported, and above all safe, from the start to the end of the process, ”said Minister Jolin-Barrette. And to do this, a culture change is needed in the justice system ”.
The bill also entrusts the Judicial Council with the responsibility of establishing a training program on the realities relating to sexual violence and domestic violence ”for the benefit of the judges, who must undertake to follow this program. A measure that Me Gagnon considers essential since there is a lack of knowledge "among all stakeholders in the justice system in the matter, according to her.
A report on the implementation of the training program must be submitted to the Minister each year.
Details to come by regulationAs planned, the initiative will first take the form of a pilot project in this direction. Its implementation, as well as the types of proceedings that will be heard by the Specialized Tribunal, remain to be determined by regulation.
What we do not yet have in the bill, and this is normal at this stage, are the concrete details of what the specialized tribunal will understand, ”observes Mr. Gagnon. We are very anxious to have the details on the pilot projects that will be deployed across Quebec. "
Same story with Professor Chagnon. We understand that it is really in the regulations that we will find more of the substance of this future tribunal, ”she said in an interview with Isabelle Richer on RDI on Wednesday.
Among the concrete measures she would like to see, the lawyer mentions the creation of spaces dedicated to victims in courthouses to prevent them from meeting their alleged attacker, adequate information given in a timely manner for those who decide to file a complaint, as well as the coordination and consultation of stakeholders to avoid the multiplication of cases in various bodies.
Professor Chagnon adds the consolidation of the principle of vertical prosecution ”- that is, the fact that the victim deals with the same prosecutor throughout the process. This practice already exists in some judicial districts, but has not been extended everywhere, she said. The lawyer also mentions the multidisciplinary care ”of victims, ranging from police officers sensitized to collaboration between crown prosecutors and psychosocial experts.
All these administrative measures ”, if they are absent from the bill, were mentioned by Minister Jolin-Barrette at a press conference. He says he is already at work ”to see them come true.
Different contexts to take into accountMe Gagnon also warns that the creation of a tribunal specializing in both domestic violence and sexual violence could pose challenges, since the context is really different ”.
When it comes to domestic violence, what matters is to ensure the safety of women and children, and to reduce the risk of homicide, ”explains the general manager of Juripop. Whereas when it comes to sexual violence, what will make the pilot projects a success is if the victim feels well supported and understands how the system works and what she is getting into ”.
The success of the pilot project is not going to be: do we have more denunciations, or are there more convictions or are there more guilty pleas ”, although this is a probable effect depending on what we see internationally, as detailed in the report of the working group on the establishment of the specialized tribunal.
But in my opinion, the motivation must really be to rebuild the confidence and the feeling of well-being of the victims. "
If you are a victim of domestic violence, you can call 1-800-363-9010 for immediate assistance. The SOS violence conjugale telephone line is completely confidential and accessible 24 hours a day.
Professor Chagnon adds the consolidation of the principle of vertical prosecution ”- that is, the fact that the victim deals with the same prosecutor throughout the process. This practice already exists in some judicial districts, but has not been extended everywhere, she said. The lawyer also mentions the multidisciplinary care ”of victims, ranging from police officers sensitized to collaboration between crown prosecutors and psychosocial experts.
All these administrative measures ”, if they are absent from the bill, were mentioned by Minister Jolin-Barrette at a press conference. He says he is already at work ”to see them come true.
Different contexts to take into accountMe Gagnon also warns that the creation of a tribunal specializing in both domestic violence and sexual violence could pose challenges, since the context is really different ”.
When it comes to domestic violence, what matters is to ensure the safety of women and children, and to reduce the risk of homicide, ”explains the general manager of Juripop. Whereas when it comes to sexual violence, what will make the pilot projects a success is if the victim feels well supported and understands how the system works and what she is getting into ”.
The success of the pilot project is not going to be: do we have more denunciations, or are there more convictions or are there more guilty pleas ”, although this is a probable effect depending on what we see internationally, as detailed in the report of the working group on the establishment of the specialized tribunal.
But in my opinion, the motivation must really be to rebuild the confidence and the feeling of well-being of the victims. "
If you are a victim of domestic violence, you can call 1-800-363-9010 for immediate assistance. The SOS violence conjugale telephone line is completely confidential and accessible 24 hours a day.
MSN
Frédérik-Xavier Duhamel
https://www.msn.com/fr-ca/actualites/quebec-canada/qu%c3%a9bec-d%c3%a9pose-son-projet-de-loi-pour-un-tribunal-sp%c3%a9cialis%c3%a9-en-violence-sexuelle/ar-AAOtJOq?ocid=msedgdhp
Frédérik-Xavier Duhamel
https://www.msn.com/fr-ca/actualites/quebec-canada/qu%c3%a9bec-d%c3%a9pose-son-projet-de-loi-pour-un-tribunal-sp%c3%a9cialis%c3%a9-en-violence-sexuelle/ar-AAOtJOq?ocid=msedgdhp