Launch Event - Rethinking Justice for Survivors of Sexual Violence: a systemic investigation
About the launch event
On November 25, 2025, the Office of the Federal Ombudsperson for Victims of Crime (OFOVC) hosted a hybrid event to mark the release of its report, “Rethinking Justice for Survivors of Sexual Violence: A Systemic Investigation.” The event featured a panel discussion with experts and offered opportunities for networking among advocates, policymakers, and engaged Canadians committed to building a future free from violence.
This event highlighted the findings of the systemic investigation the OFOVC launched on March 11, 2024, examining how survivors of sexual violence are treated within Canada’s criminal justice system (CJS). The investigation was conducted to shed light on critical shortcomings and drive urgently needed reforms across the entire system.
Changing the way survivors of sexual assault are treated in Canada’s CJS is essential. Improvements must be guided by the voices of survivors to advance victims’ rights and improve their experiences throughout the justice process.
Biographies - Panellists
Marlee Liss, award-winning speaker, survivor advocate, somatic educator, author
Marlee Liss is a somatic educator, social worker, and lesbian feminist whose groundbreaking sexual assault case led to a precedent-setting Restorative Justice outcome in the North American court system. An award-winning speaker featured in Forbes, HuffPost, and the Mel Robbins Show, she founded the global Survivors 4 Justice Reform coalition and has delivered talks for Action Trauma Summit, Vanderbilt University, Women’s Mental Health Conference at Yale and more. Currently, her story is being made into a documentary and her book on reimagining justice will be released with Penguin Random House in 2027.
Nneka MacGregor, Co-founder and Executive Director of WomenatthecentrE
Nneka MacGregor is the co-founder and Executive Director of the Women’s Centre for Social Justice, also known as the WomenatthecentrE, our unique non-profit organization that was created for women survivors of gender-based violence, by women survivors. Nneka develops and delivers training to various agencies and organizations that promote better understanding of the issues, and focuses on personal and political advocacy for women survivors, as well as on ways to engage men and boys in the initiatives to eradicate violence against women.
Deepa Mattoo, Executive Director of the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic
Deepa Mattoo is a dedicated lawyer and intersectional feminist recognized for her commitment to advancing equity, anti-oppression, and anti-racism. Her extensive career spans various legal and leadership roles. Since 2019, Deepa has served as the Executive Director of the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic, overseeing multiple departments and directing the Clinic’s intervention and advocacy efforts. She has appeared before the SCC, parliamentary committees, and UN civil society meetings, advocating on a broad spectrum of social justice and human rights issues. In 2023, Deepa was appointed to the Domestic Violence Death Review Committee (DVDRC).
Sunny Marriner, Chair of the OFOVC's Expert Advisory Circle
As the National Lead of the Improving Institutional Accountability Project (IIAP), Sunny Marriner spearheaded the introduction of independent advocate-led case reviews in uncharged sexual assault investigations across Canada and internationally. IIAP’s independent police oversight model, Violence Against Women Advocate Case Review (VACR), is today used in over 30 Canadian communities over five provinces. Sunny’s focus is advancing systemic change in responses to sexual violence across institutional and criminal justice frameworks by prioritizing systemic accountability, independent oversight, and improved data collection, while centring the role of feminist frontline, survivor-led advocacy movements as the key drivers of systemic change for women and girls in Canada. Sunny’s work is grounded in 27 years of advocacy and support to survivors of sexual violence as part of the Canadian independent feminist sexual assault centre movement. She regularly serves in provincial, national, and international capacities addressing police, legal, and state responses to sexual violence
Jennifer Moore-Rattray, Former Executive Director of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and the former Ministerial Special Representative on Call for Justice 1.7.
Jennifer Moore Rattray is an innovative public sector leader, proud citizen of Peepeekisis Cree Nation, and CEO of Marymound—one of Manitoba’s largest and oldest social service agencies.
She has led transformative change across sectors, including as Executive Director of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and as Ministerial Special Representative to Canada’s Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, advancing the creation of a National Indigenous and Human Rights Ombudsperson.
Previously, as an Assistant Deputy Minister with the Province of Manitoba, she was responsible for the Family Violence Prevention Program and worked to improve outcomes for marginalized citizens. At the University of Winnipeg, she served as Associate Vice-President for over a decade, expanding access to higher education for Indigenous, newcomer, and low-income students.
Jennifer began her career as an award-winning journalist in Canada and the U.S. holding governments and public officials to account. She is honoured to sit on the Advisory Circle for the Federal Ombudsperson for Victim’s of Crime.
Marie-Christine Villeneuve, Communications and Public Relations Coordinator at Centres d'aide aux victimes d'actes criminels (CAVAC)
Marie-Christine Villeneuve has been the communications and public relations coordinator for Réseau des Centres d'aide aux victimes d'actes criminels for almost four years. Supported by her colleagues in the field throughout Quebec, she champions the mission of the CAVACs and promotes the needs of victims, notably through her role as spokesperson.
Dr. Benjamin Roebuck, Federal Ombudsperson for Victims of Crime
Dr. Benjamin Roebuck (he/him) holds a Ph.D. in Criminology from the University of Ottawa and is an internationally recognized expert in the field of victimology, with over 15 years of experience as a researcher and educator on victim rights. Prior to his appointment as Federal Ombudsperson for Victims of Crime, he was Research Chair and Professor of Victimology and Public Safety at Algonquin College, where he was a founding member of the Victimology Research Centre. He has been the principal investigator for studies exploring resilience and posttraumatic change with survivors of violence, victim service providers, and people with lived experiences of homelessness. Benjamin previously served on the Board of Directors for Crime Prevention Ottawa and committees focused on restorative justice, mental health, and youth justice. He served as a member of the External Advisory Committee for the Sexual Misconduct Response Centre, which provides support for currently serving and former Canadian Armed Forces members and National Defence public service employees affected by sexual misconduct.
Post-event summary
Opening
The event began with a land acknowledgment and prayer led by Elder Malcolm Solis, who emphasized Indigenous knowledge, community strength, and restorative justice. His reflections highlighted decades of work in child welfare and justice reform, underscoring the need for respect and healing in justice processes.
Opening remarks by Hoori Hamboyan, lead investigator
Hoori began her opening remarks by thanking survivors, stakeholders, the federal consultative committee and the advisory circles. Reflecting on systemic issues, she noted how court processes often retraumatize victims, citing a survivor’s account of being “shredded to pieces” during cross-examination. Hoori called for a justice system that is consistently trauma-informed, proactive in providing information and choices, and committed to upholding victims’ rights—not reliant on individual kindness. The vision outlined includes fair trials for all parties, timely case processing, testimonial aids tailored to diverse needs, trauma-informed policing, better data collection, and restorative justice options. While progress has been made—such as judges rejecting stereotype-based questioning and improved accessibility for Deaf survivors—significant gaps remain, particularly for those facing intersectional barriers. Implementing the report’s recommendations will foster consistency, accountability, healing, and a safer society.
Survivor Testimony – Marlee Liss
In a video recording, survivor advocate Marlee Liss shared her experience of sexual assault and the retraumatization caused by court processes. She advocated for trauma-informed, survivor-led options, including restorative justice, and amendments to the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights to ensure informed consent and choice.
Panel Highlights
The panel discussion featured five experts who provided deep insights into systemic issues and solutions.
Sunny Mariner, Chair of the OFOVC's Expert Advisory Circle
Shared her extensive experience from frontline sexual assault centres, emphasizing that these centres were founded by survivors for survivors. She highlighted the principle that survivors are experts in their own lives and discussed her work on institutional accountability and oversight mechanisms to review police cases that fail to proceed. Sunny stressed that kindness alone is insufficient; systemic accountability and procedural fairness are essential.
Neka McGregor, Co-founder and Executive Director of WomenatthecentrE
Spoke passionately as a Black woman, abolitionist, and lawyer about the inherent harm within the criminal justice system. She argued against incremental reforms, advocating instead for transformative justice that uproots systemic racism, sexism, and oppression. Neka described her organization’s work in creating survivor-led spaces and disrupting harmful narratives, emphasizing community accountability and love as foundations for justice.
Marie-Christine Villeneuve Communications and Public Relations Coordinator at Centre d'aide aux victimes d'actes criminels (CAVAC)
Presented Quebec’s innovative approaches, including liaison agents for victims of sexual violence and specialized courts. She explained how these initiatives aim to rebuild trust in the justice system by centering victims’ needs, reducing re-traumatization, and ensuring informed participation. Marie-Christine detailed programs that provide flexible, trauma-informed support and collaboration across agencies.
Deepa Mattoo, Executive Director of the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic
Highlighted the critical importance of enforceable rights and independent legal advice. She explained how her clinic empowers survivors to make informed choices across multiple legal pathways—criminal, civil, and human rights—rather than defaulting to the criminal system. Deepa also discussed systemic flaws, language barriers, and the need for culturally sensitive services. She celebrated recommendations for expanding funding for legal representation and called for structural reforms beyond advice-only programs.
Jennifer Moore-Rattray, Former Executive Director of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and the former Ministerial Special Representative on Call for Justice 1.7
Drew on her experience as Executive Director of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. She underscored the urgency of implementing the 231 Calls for Justice, noting that progress has been slow and inadequate. Jennifer framed this as a sacred responsibility and called for political accountability, intersectional approaches, and sustained advocacy to end gender-based violence and systemic neglect.
Collectively, the panellists emphasized that meaningful change requires systemic accountability, survivor leadership, and a paradigm shift toward trauma-informed and transformative justice models.
Closing
Dr. Benjamin Roebuck, the federal ombudsperson for victims of crime, thanked Elder Macolm Saulis, the panellists, survivors, stakeholders and the OFOVC team for their strength and wisdom. The event concluded with a strong call to action: implement recommendations, ensure accountability, and advocate for systemic reform. The OFOVC looks forward to government response acknowledging official action.
Live video recording and English transcript available upon request.
ofovc-bofvac.media@ombud.gc.ca