British Columbia’s Attorney General, Niki Sharma, KC has responded to CBABC’s submission to government endorsing the Creating Safety in BC Courts Report. Published by Rise Women’s Legal Centre, the report recommends modifying courthouses and court processes to promote the safety and protection of survivors of violence.
In our letter, our Court Services and Access to Justice Committees expressed support of the report’s potential to increase court modernization and access to justice, not only for those surviving violence but for all British Columbians. We encouraged the BC government to implement the recommendations accordingly.
The Attorney General’s response highlighted the Ministry’s engagement with the Rise Women’s Legal Centre and their shared commitment to ensuring BC courts are safe and welcoming spaces for all, particularly survivors of violence. Initiatives underway include promoting virtual court options where possible, implementing more support for survivors of intimate partner violence to help them navigate the family law system, and renovating courthouses to include gender neutral, trans-inclusive washrooms.
CBABC welcomes further engagement with the government to advance initiatives that support court users’ safety and modernize the courts.
Questions? Email us at advocacy@cbabc.org