1526 Dresden Row, 4th Floor Halifax, NS B3J 3K3

P: (902) 422-4240 E: info@avaloncentre.ca

SANE Program Business P: (902) 422-6503
W: www.avaloncentre.ca
For Immediate Release

March 24, 2016

WHAT ANTI-VIOLENCE EXPERTS KNEW BEFORE THE GHOMESHI TRIAL STILL HOLDS TRUE
Halifax/Nova Scotia/Atlantic Region

Today we learned the outcome of one of the most high profile and widely discussed sexual assault
trials of the decade.

We are very disappointed but not surprised by the acquittal of Mr. Ghomeshi. This case fits all too
well in a long-standing pattern of victim-blaming and holding a sexual assault survivor to a higher
standard than victims of other crimes said Jeanne Fay, Executive Coordinator of Second Story
Womens Centre in Lunenburg. The acquittal also points to inadequate support and resources for
Judges and Crown Prosecutors to understand the impacts of trauma; and for the Crown to call
expert witnesses in sexual assault cases. It is long past time that the Canadian Judiciary recognized
this unfair treatment and implemented changes to rectify it, especially adequate training in the
impact of trauma on victims of sexual assault.

Clearly there are problems with the present system. This is an opportunity for community to ask
for a review of the laws and work together towards change. Sexual assault is a serious violation of
our basic right to safety. Said Shelley Curtis-Thompson, Executive Director of the Pictou County
Womens Resource and Sexual Assault Centre in New Glasgow.

Regardless of the verdict, this trial and the accompanying media coverage confirms that the
criminal justice system is not a safe place for victims of sexual violence and remains mired in victim
blaming and shaming. We are saddened at the long-term negative impacts this will have on women
who have been affected by sexual violence and are seeking help, support, and justice. Lorraine
Whalley, Fredericton Sexual Assault Centre.

.
It takes courage to report a sexual assault to the police. Some survivors choose to report. Many do
not. 97% of sexual assaults go unreported in Canada. Of those that are reported to police, most do
not lead to charges, let alone convictions. Out of every 1,000 sexual assaults in Canada, 997
assailants walk free. (Source: Johnson, Limits of Criminal Justice Response: Trends in Police and
Court Processing of Sexual Assault, in Sheehy, Sexual Assault in Canada: Law, Legal Practice and
Womens Activism, 2012) From those who do report, we often hear about how important they feel it
is to hold the perpetrator accountable, regardless of the outcome

Its not always simple to fully understand the short and long-term impacts of this particular kind of
trauma not simple for survivors themselves, nor others. There may or may not be visible physical
injuries, but in every case there will be psychological impacts that can last a lifetime. The impacts
can stem from the terror of experiencing a dehumanizing attack on ones physical bodily integrity;
the humiliation that ensues from heinous sexual acts being perpetrated by someone victims often

1526 Dresden Row, 4th Floor Halifax, NS B3J 3K3

P: (902) 422-4240 E: info@avaloncentre.ca
SANE Program Business P: (902) 422-6503
W: www.avaloncentre.ca
thought they knew; blame and judgment from friends, family, the police and others; and the selfblame that most survivors struggle to come to terms with.

Focusing on the behaviour of victims doesnt help us to understand this violent crime nor does it
help us to hold perpetrators accountable for the crimes they commit. Sexual assault in dating
relationships, like the ones described by the complainants in the Ghomeshi case, need to be
understood within the context of intimate partner violence. 75% of sexual assaults are committed
by somebody known to the survivor (Statistics Canada, Prevalence and severity of violence against
women, 2013).
The predatory behaviour of men like Ghomeshi is reinforced through our hypersexualized &
pornofied culture that depicts women as inferior and objects to be abused and ridiculed. As we
work to address the societal harm from these depictions, men like Ghomeshi need a clear message
sent to them, from our justice system and our society, that violence against women will not be
tolerated. Says Bernadette MacDonald, Executive Director, Tri-County Womens Centre, Yarmouth,
NS.

We want to express our deep admiration and respect for the survivors who so courageously came
forward in this case. Their willingness to come forward has started a public conversation in our
country about the crime of sexual assault, a conversation we hope will help create a safer
environment for others to come forward.

National attention to the seriousness of sexualized violence and abuse and the complexities of
sexual assault cases has led to public recognition of the impact of the criminal justice system on
survivors of sexual assault/abuse. There is a need for change in order to address gaps in access to
services, support and justice for ALL victims/surviviors. Indicates Jackie Stevens, Executive
Director of Avalon Sexual Assault Centre in Halifax. Victim blaming and the myth that people often
lie about sexual abuse is extremely harmful and prevents many survivors from disclosing and
accessing support. We have learned that it is imperative to start by believing.
-30For more information Contact:

Jackie Stevens, Executive Director, Avalon Sexual Assault Centre, Halifax, NS

902-422-4240, executivedirector@avaloncentre.ca

Bernadette MacDonald, Executive Director, Tri-County Womens Centre, Yarmouth, NS

902-742-0085, bernadette@tricountywomenscentre.org

Shelley Curtis-Thompson, Executive Director, Pictou County Womens Resource and Sexual Assault
Centre, New Glasgow, 902-755-4647, ed@womenscentre.ca
Jeanne Fay, Executive Coordinator, Second Story Womens Centre, Lunenburg, NS
902-640-3044, exec@secstory.com

1526 Dresden Row, 4th Floor Halifax, NS B3J 3K3

P: (902) 422-4240 E: info@avaloncentre.ca
SANE Program Business P: (902) 422-6503
W: www.avaloncentre.ca

Lorraine Whalley, Executive Director, Executive Director, Fredericton Sexual Assault Crisis Centre,
Fredericton, NB, 506.454.0460, fsacc@nb.aibn.com
Sigrid Rolfe, PEI Rape and Sexual Assault Centre, 902-566-1864 or admin@peirsac.org
This is a joint media release by the following organizations :
Sexual Assault Services Network of Nova Scotia: Alice Housing, Antigonish Womens Resource Centre and Sexual Assault
Services Association, Avalon Sexual Assault Centre, Central Nova Womens Resource Centre, Every Womans Centre, Harbour
House, Heartwood Centre for Youth Development, LEA Place Womens Resource Centre, Leeside Society, Miqmaw Native
Friendship Centre, Nova Scotia Association of Black Social Workers, Nova Scotia Native Womens Association, Persons
Against Non-State Torture, Pictou County Womens Resource and Sexual Assault Centre, Raven Wisdom Retreat, Second Story
Womens Centre, Sexual Assault Services Lunenburg and Queens Counties, Sheet Harbour Sexual Health Centre, Strait Area
Womens Place, The Youth Project, Tri-County Womens Centre, Womens Centres Connect, Womens Place Resource Centre,
YWCA Halifax
The Atlantic Sexual Assault Network: Avalon Sexual Assault Centre, Fredericton Sexual Assault Crisis Centre, PEI Rape and
Sexual Assault Centre, Newfoundland & Labrador Sexual Assault Crisis & Prevention Centre

-30About Avalon Sexual Assault Centre

The Avalon Sexual Assault Centre is a feminist organization working to eliminate sexual
assault/abuse, and to change the current socio-political culture that fosters sexism, social injustice
and other forms of oppression.