Sexual Assault Services to be Assessed

A project to show how and where services are needed to help sexual assault survivors in Nova Scotia will move forward in partnership with the Advisory Council on the Status of Women.

Carolyn Bolivar-Getson, Minister responsible for the Advisory Council on the Status of Women Act, announced today, Dec. 19, that the Sexual Assault Services Planning Group would receive $12,000 for the project. The information gathered will extend and improve services.

Nova Scotia has specialized sexual assault services operating in Halifax Regional Municipality and Colchester County. Pilot projects to bring sexual assault nurse examiner services to the Guysborough and Antigonish areas began in July.

Women's centres, transition houses, and the justice and health care systems address the needs where specialized services don't exist.

These services improve the survivor's recovery, and experience with the justice system. They can also include a medical examination designed to provide evidence if the survivor pursues legal action.

"Sexual assault is devastating, and specialized services are needed to support the survivor to ensure that justice can be done," said Ms. Bolivar-Getson. "I'm proud to be able to support the organizations that have been leaders in dealing with sexual assault in Nova Scotia."

"Sexual violence and violence against women continue to be persistent social problems," said Irene Smith, executive director of Avalon Sexual Assault Centre. "The advisory council is sending a strong message that they are committed to working with community organizations to address sexual violence and to improve services for those affected by it."

The project will begin in the new year and is expected to be completed by summer 2007. The assessment will be provided to government departments that deal most directly with the issue of sexual assault.

Other partners in the project are Lucille Harper, Antigonish Women's Resource Centre; Helen Morrison, Cape Breton Inter-Agency Committee on Family Violence; Vida Woodworth, Colchester Sexual Assault Centre; and Bea LeBlanc, Transition House Association of Nova Scotia.

The sexual assault rate in Nova Scotia is about the same as the national rate, but Nova Scotia is one of two provinces that saw significant increases in the sexual assault rate between 1999 and 2004.