Staff at the Avalon Sexual Assault Centre say the solution to the growing problem of sexualized violence starts with believing the victims’ stories.
The centre is holding a two-day conference on sexualized violence in Halifax. It started Thursday with a video that will accompany a new awareness campaign.
“We have a responsibility to stop sexual violence and we have a responsibility to believe that we can make a difference,” says Irene Smith, executive director of the Avalon Sexual Assault Centre.
The conference, dubbed Start by Believing, aims to educate police, lawyers, nurses and other professionals who deal with victims of sexual violence in Nova Scotia.
Sherri Bain, a survivor of sexual violence, shared her story.
“From the time I was five until I was 13 years old, I was sexually abused,” says Bain. “My personal passion is not only that we support victims, but that we prevent people from becoming victims.”
Olga Trulillo is also a survivor and one of four speakers at the conference. She says the justice system needs to change how it works with victims.
“Our legal systems make it really difficult for survivors of sexual violence in particular to access justice because the adversarial nature of our legal system is triggering,” says Trulillo.
Organizers say the conference wasn't a result of Rehtaeh Parsons’ death or the sexualized frosh week chant at Saint Mary's University, but those events underline the important need for it.
Parsons’ parents attended the event.
“I think it's important for me to stay involved with this issue,” says Parsons’ father Glen Canning. “I think it would be important for my daughter, for her memory and I am doing it for other people who are out there and in her shoes, because everyone as much as possible needs to speak up about this.”
The conference continues Friday.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Kelland Sundahl
