Sex assault response programs receive $10 million

The Ending Violence Association of B.C. will receive an additional $10 million to assist more community-based sexual assault response service programs, the B.C. government announced Friday.

Minister of Public Safety Mike Farnworth said sexual assault and other forms of gender-based violence have devastating impacts on survivors.

“The success of the first round of this grant program was exceptional, and I'm happy we're able to provide further support for EVA B.C. to administer more grants for additional programs as there is a demonstrated high-level need for these services and capacity across B.C. communities to deliver them,” he said.

The money is on top of the $10 million the organization received in March 2020 to establish an Emergency Sexual Assault Services grant program, which provided trauma support for survivors through 23 organizations throughout the province.

Half of the grant funding was allocated to an Indigenous services stream led by Indigenous leaders to provide culturally appropriate support.

“Our province should be a safe place for all of us, and yet over half the women in B.C. have experienced physical or sexual violence since the age of 16. That's more than one million women in our province,” said Grace Lore, parliamentary secretary for gender equity.

“Sexual assault response services that are trauma informed, survivor centred and culturally appropriate can make a huge difference for people when they need it most.”