Backgrounder - New federal funding will improve women's access to Yukon’s legal system in cases of sexual assault

Status of Women Canada – Women’s Program

One of the ways Status of Women Canada advances gender equality is by providing funding to eligible organizations through the Women’s Program. Projects are selected via calls for proposals on specific themes, as well as through a continuous intake process that allows the Women’s Program to accept applications on an ongoing basis.

The Women’s Program funds projects of up to five years that address barriers to women’s participation and equality in Canadian society in three priority areas: ending violence against women and girls; improving the economic security of women and girls; and encouraging women and girls in leadership roles.

Funded Project

The Yukon Status of Women Council (YSWC) is a territorial, feminist collective striving to achieve women's equality through research, education and public policy work.

Project Description

The YSWC is receiving $374,000 for the Yukon Advocate Case Review; a 36-month project focused on the problems women face when accessing Yukon's legal system, specifically where sexual assault charges are involved. The project will concentrate on finding solutions for the low reporting rate of sexual assaults in Yukon and possible reasons for the high number of reported cases that do not result in charges. Through collaboration with partners and stakeholders, the Yukon Advocate Case Review project will review judicial decisions on sexual assault trials, evaluate sexual assault reports that do not result in charges and review Crown sexual assault case files that do not reach the trial stage.