News | RWCHR’s Angela Marinos Continues to Advance Survivors’ Rights in Canada

Last week, the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights accepted three of the RWCHR’s proposals on Bill C-16 (the Protecting Victims Act) in a major step forward to better protect survivors of sexual violence and sex trafficking.

The three reforms accepted by the Committee are:

Presented by Angela Marinos, RWCHR Chief General Counsel, during an appearance before the Committee this April, our proposed amendments aimed to strengthen how the criminal justice system handles sexual violence and sex trafficking cases, protects complainants’ dignity and privacy interests, and supports the restorative justice process.

“We have to stand up for victims and survivors of sexual violence and sex trafficking. Bill C-16 is a significant step forward, but we can and must do better. We can provide stronger protections for victims and survivors. That is the objective of my advocacy before the Committee and the Courts.” – Angela Marinos, RWCHR Chief General Counsel

This is an equality issue that should concern all Canadians given the disproportionate impact on women and girls, including Indigenous and racialized women and girls.

We are continuing to push for better and stronger protections for victims and survivors of sexual violence and sex trafficking through advocacy and law reform. As part of this commitment to advancing the rights of survivors and protecting human rights, especially for the most vulnerable, we work to ensure the Canadian justice system affirms protections that reflect the lived realities of exploitation and that uphold Canada’s human rights obligations. We will continue to push for better and stronger protections for victims and survivors of sexual violence and sex trafficking through advocacy and law reform.

Watch Angela’s testimony here and read the full brief to the Committee here.

Her recent op-ed in the Toronto Star argued that the Canadian government should ensure victims of sexual violence and sex trafficking have access to independent legal representation.