(La version fran\u00e7aise suit)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS RELEASE<\/p>\n\n\n\n
DAWN-RAFH Canada working to increase access to justice for women with disabilities and deaf women who are victims of crime<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Montreal (April 8, 2014) In recognition of National Victims of Crime Awareness Week April 6-12, the DisAbled Women’s Network of Canada \/ R\u00e9seau d\u2019action des femmes handicap\u00e9es (DAWN-RAFH Canada) is launching a campaign aimed at informing women with disabilities and Deaf women about their right to report abuse and to have their abusers tried in court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Entitled \u201cWe Can Tell and We Will<\/a>,\u201d the campaign includes a Public Service Announcement (PSA) which depicts two women with intellectual disabilities and one with a communication difference describing abuse and stating that abuse is unacceptable. The PSA encourages women with disabilities to report abuse and informs them that there are advocates who can support them to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n DAWN-RAFH Canada’s campaign is designed to bring attention to the precedent-setting decision by the Supreme Court of Canada, a court case referred to as the D.A.I. case<\/a>. It involved a woman with an intellectual disability who reported that her step-father had sexually assaulted her. The provincial court disallowed her testimony on the grounds that she was not competent to testify because she could not demonstrate that she understood the meaning of an \u00ab\u00a0oath\u201d or a \u201cpromise\u201d in order to tell the truth. As a result, the accused was acquitted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The case was appealed at the Supreme Court of Canada, with DAWN-RAFH Canada and the Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF) acting as interveners. The Interveners stated that women with mental disabilities (including intellectual disabilities, brain injury and mental health issues) should be able to testify against their abusers, even if they can’t explain what truth or promise means. The Court agreed, stating that witnesses need only to be able to communicate the evidence. In February 2012, the Supreme Court ordered a new trial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to DAWN-RAFH Canada, 83% of women with disabilities will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime. \u201cIt is therefore imperative that women with disabilities know how to identify abuse, know that they have a right to report it, and know that there is support for them in the justice system when they do so,\u201d said Bonnie Brayton, National Executive Director of DAWN-RAFH Canada. \u201cThese are critical steps to take so that we can stop the appalling level of abuse that women with disabilities experience.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n LEAF\u2019s Legal Director Kim Stanton says that the decision confirms the importance of access to justice for sexual assault complainants with mental disabilities. \u201cPrior to this decision, the court excluded testimony from people with mental disabilities, which exacerbated their victimization and allowed their abusers to continue the abuse with impunity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n To help women with disabilities who are victims of abuse become aware of their rights, DAWN-RAFH Canada\u2019s public education campaign includes the PSA, as well as an information sheet about abuse. They will also share the recommendations they submitted to the Department of Justice on how to make the proposed Victims Bill of Rights inclusive of the needs of people with disabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n More information about this campaign can be found on DAWN-RAFH Canada\u2019s website. Funding for the campaign was received from the Victims Fund of the Department of Justice Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n DAWN-RAFH Canada is a national, feminist, cross-disability organization whose mission is to end the poverty, isolation, discrimination and violence experienced by Canadian women with disabilities and Deaf women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n -30-<\/p>\n\n\n\n For more information contact:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tanya Magni, Kim Stanton POUR DIFFUSION IMM\u00c9DIATE DAWN-RAFH CANADA OEUVRE AFIN QUE LE SYST\u00c8ME DE JUSTICE SOIT PLUS ACCESSBLE AUX FEMMES VIVANT EN SITUATION DE HANDICAP ET LES FEMMES SOURDES VICTIMES D\u2019ACTES CRIMINELS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Montr\u00e9al, le 8 avril 2014 \u2500 Du 6 au 12 avril se tient, partout au Canada, la Semaine nationale de sensibilisation pour les victimes d\u2019actes criminels. Afin de souligner cet important \u00e9v\u00e9nement, le R\u00e9seau d\u2019action des femmes handicap\u00e9es \/ the DisAbled Women’s Network of Canada (DAWN-RAFH Canada) lancera une campagne nationale d\u2019information et de sensibilisation s\u2019adressant aux femmes vivant en situation de handicap et les femmes Sourdes les informant sur leur droit de d\u00e9noncer toute agression ou abus ainsi que leur droit \u00e0 voir leurs agresseurs traduits en justice et punis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Communications Coordinator, DAWN-RAFH Canada
communications@dawncanada.net
Tel: 514-396-0009 Ext. 2504<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Legal Director, Women\u2019s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF)
k.stanton@leaf.ca
Tel: 416-595-7170 Ext. 223<\/p>\n\n\n\n
COMMUNIQU\u00c9 DE PRESSE<\/p>\n\n\n\n