Legal Support Now Available to Survivors of Sexual Violence

  • Executive Council

June 19, 2018

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, in collaboration with the Public Legal Information Association of NL (PLIAN) and the Newfoundland and Labrador Sexual Assault Crisis and Prevention Centre (NLSACPC), today launched a program that offers free legal support to survivors of sexual violence.

As of today, people who have experienced sexual violence can contact trained staff who will assess and work with the individual’s particular needs and experiences and can provide supportive referrals to a trauma-informed lawyer.

Contact info:

Toll free: 1-833-722-2805
Phone: 709-722-2805 
Email: support@journeyprojectnl.com

As part of this program, PLIAN and NLSACPC have recruited 21 lawyers throughout the province to provide legal advice to survivors referred by this program. Lawyers have completed training on working with survivors through a trauma-informed lens, and have been assessed and screened by PLIAN and NLSACPC.

The Federal Government has provided funding to the Department of Justice and Public Safety for three years to support this program.

Initiatives such as this deliver on commitments in The Way Forward to deliver better services and better outcomes for residents. The Way Forward outlines all actions the Provincial Government is taking to achieve a strong, diversified province with a high standard of living, and can be viewed at thewayforward.gov.nl.ca.

Quotes 
“Our government is working to ensure that all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have access to justice. Today marks an important step forward in that process. Our goal is to support anyone in this province who has gone through a traumatic experience of sexual violence and now may be feeling lost and unsure about their legal rights and options. I commend the lawyers who have taken part in the trauma-informed training program and have stepped up to offer services to survivors.” 
Honourable Andrew Parsons
Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Attorney General

“Violence against women is unacceptable. Significant work is ongoing within government to address violence prevention. Collaboration with community organizations, as seen with this program, will help us as we work to end all forms of violence.”
Honourable Siobhan Coady
Minister Responsible for the Status of Women

“People who have experienced sexual violence, including sexual assault and sexual harassment, face many barriers when they encounter the legal system. The goal of this program is to remove some of these barriers by empowering survivors with legal advice, information, and support to better understand the legal options available to them and the path ahead of them. This is a unique and ground-breaking partnership between government and community organizations that utilizes the expertise and experience of PLIAN and the NL Sexual Assault Crisis and Prevention Centre to provide the best possible service and support for people in our province who have experienced any form of sexual violence.” 
Kevin O’Shea
Executive Director, Public Legal Information Association of NL

“The NL Sexual Assault Crisis and Prevention Centre is delighted to be a partner in the Sexual Violence Legal Support Service. Survivors have been asking for such a program for many years and today this need is being realized. We look forward to continuing this collaboration with PLIAN and the Department of Justice and Public Safety.” 
Wendolyn Schlamp
Board Chair, NL Sexual Assault Crisis and Prevention Centre

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Learn More

For information on justice services available to victims visit www.justice.gov.nl.ca/just/victim_services/

For information on legal services visit publiclegalinfo.com/ 

For information on crisis support services visit nlsacpc.com/ 

Follow us on Twitter: @GovNL and @JPS_GovNL 

Media contacts
Lesley Clarke
Justice and Public Safety
709-729-6985, 699-2910
LesleyClarke@gov.nl.ca

Nancy Hollett
Natural Resources
709-729-5777, 685-3372
nancyhollett@gov.nl.ca

Kevin O’Shea
Public Legal Information Association of NL
709-722-2643
info@publiclegalinfo.com

2018 06 19 1:50 pm