One of the biggest obstacles facing sexual assault survivors is the fear of not being believed.
Some police and RCMP members have taken to social media and pledged to #Start By Believing.
We are now flying the Sexual Assault Awareness Month banner @HfxRegPolice HQ #startbybelieving @CentreAvalon pic.twitter.com/2vCtpC8TC3
— Chief JM Blais, HRP (@JMBlais1) April 5, 2017
Dianne Crowell, Co-ordinator of Sexual Assault Services Lunenburg Queens says it’s a great first step but she’d like to see more done, and soon.
“It’s about getting rid of the judgemental attitudes we have towards victims of violence and sexual assault. ‘It was their fault, they shouldn’t have been wearing this, they had too much to drink.’ All of those things do not say to somebody come and sexually assault me and treat me violently.”
Crowell says mandatory training should be put in place for everyone working in the justice system.
April is sexual assault awareness month.
