‘REALLY DISTURBING’
Woman makes public a Google map showing the number of sexual assaults and rapes on P.E.I.
Sarah Stewart-Clarke is hoping a visual representation indicating the sexual violence incidents on P.E.I. will push lawmakers to do more to fund trauma care and supports for victims of sexual assault and rape.
An Island woman is calling for more immediate support for victims of sexual violence on P.E.I.
Last year, Sarah Stewart-Clark made a public Google Map allowing victims of sexual assault and rape to put a pin point on the map, indicating where the incident occurred.
She was shocked.
“I don’t think we realize the extent of sexual violence on P.E.I. It’s really disturbing.”
The map featured dozens of pin points with small descriptions for each incident.
“I thought if Islanders could visually see the numbers and the places where these acts of sexual violence are happening it will hopefully wake people up to the reality that women, men and children in our province are facing.”
Shortly after it was created, data on the map was deleted. Undaunted, Stewart-Clark made a second edition, which she recently released.
However, the second map featured new pin points she hadn’t seen on the original.
“It really shows the quantity and the severity of these occurrences.”
Points indicated where the assault occurred, like parks, school campuses, beaches, washrooms and even work places.
“One describes someone being raped and held against their will for 12 hours. Others describe instances from a person’s childhood.”
Stewart-Clark, who is best known for her work with Island Mothers helping Mothers, began researching sexual assault and the mental health ramifications while moderating the Facebook group. She discovered a 2001 report released by the government that indicated about 1,000 sexual assaults occur on P.E.I. each year.
“I thought we were unaware of what was going on. But that wasn’t the case. I was completely naïve to the reality.”
Then, in 2016, the experience became personal when her friend was sexually assaulted in West Prince.
“It’s unacceptable. I think victims in our community deserve much better than that. But it’s unacceptable because there isn’t funding for trauma counsellors at a rate that would possibly be able to handle the number of victims.”
Now Stewart-Clark is hoping the map will influence government to do more to help people dealing with sexual violence and provide the necessary immediate support.
“Don’t get me wrong, the front-line workers who deal with this every day are doing their best. But it’s not enough.”
Currently there are four counsellors at the P.E.I. Rape and Sexual Assault Centre (PEIRSAC).
The counsellors, based out of Charlottetown,
set up frequent pop-up stations at the East Prince Women’s Information Centre (EPWIC) in Summerside.
Andy Lou Somers, the executive director of EPWIC, says there has been an increase in the past year of women coming in looking for support after a rape or assault.
“The #MeToo movement I think has encouraged people to come forward. We’re here to offer them resources, and as more women come forward I think it’s given more people confidence that they are being heard.”
She says when women come in asking for sexual assault support, they are immediately referred to PEIRSAC.
“I do believe more should be done to support victims and it should be talked about openly. I’ve found that when a woman goes through the process of seeing a counsellor they may build back some of their confidence, it might help them to build back their life and even report it.”
In December of 2017, the premier tabled a justice and public safety report that reviewed the data of unfounded sexual assault cases.
The review aimed to better understand unfounded cases, ensure consistent and accurate reporting, make sure the necessary resources are in place for victims, determine where policy needs to change and make sure supports are aligned.
The report concluded with government committing to treating victims with care, respect and compassion, listing way to enhance supports like, evidence-based jurisdictional practices in investigation and response, consistent investigations held to the highest possible standard, accountability and public trust in police sexual assault response.
In a government statement provided by communications officer Katie MacDonald for the department of Justice and Public Safety the province said the collaborative work between government and other agencies is ongoing.