The Nova Scotia government has taken steps to support sexual assault victims during trial.
Justice Minister Mark Furey announced Wednesday victims have access to free legal representation to challenge applications to have their past sexual history considered as part of evidence in criminal court cases.
“It is unfathomable to think that a female victim survivor of sexual assault would be expected to represent herself,” said Furey.
“We feel, I feel, that it’s important that they have that legal support to represent them in the court process.”
The federal government recently changed legislation to have a lawyer present when a victims sexual history is brought up as evidence.
Nova Scotia and Ontario are currently the only provinces to cover costs for that legal representation.
Furey says the criminal justice system can be a re-traumatizing experience for sexual assault victims and this is an important step.
“So that their privacy, their dignity and their personal integrity can be protected.”
He says requests for sexual history are increasing – from two a number of weeks ago – to eight as of Wednesday.
Reported by: Nick Yorston
Twitter: @NickYorston
E-mail: yorston.nick@radioabl.ca
