Survivor Support Consultations final report is now available

January 4, 2022 - Defence Stories

On December 13, 2021, current and former members of the Defence Team affected by sexual assault, sexual harassment or discrimination based on sex, gender, gender identity or sexual orientation, received an apology from the institutions that failed to provide them with a safe and inclusive workplace culture free from these unacceptable behaviours.

In conjunction with that apology, the Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have published a report regarding survivor supports for those who experienced sexual misconduct. The Final Settlement Agreement for the CAF-DND Sexual Misconduct Class Action mandated that consultations be conducted into improving support to survivors of sexual misconduct. The resulting report has recently been published and can be found here: Final Report.

This report provides a total of 45 recommendations which complements findings from other relevant studies and processes meant to enable a better understanding of our communities' lived experiences, including external reviews, leadership consultations and the ongoing culture dialogues.

The Final Report identified five key theme that proposed goals and recommendations based on organized engagement, partnerships, and research; support, especially to address service gaps; training; communication and information; and accountability.

The objective was to ensure that those who are affected by sexual misconduct could, through their representatives in the consultations, directly influence the institution’s policies, programs, and services to respond to sexual misconduct and to support survivors.

This report will be essential in guiding efforts to create enduring transformational change. DND/CAF will move to review, consider, and where appropriate, accept and implement the recommendations as quickly and effectively as possible. In response to the Final Report, the Deputy Minister of National Defence, Jody Thomas, and the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Wayne Eyre, provided a departmental response.

For more information, visit the Survivor Support Consultation Group webpage.

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