VWTH Statement

VWTH Statement on
Dr. Kim Stanton’s Independent Systemic Review of the British Columbia
Legal System’s Treatment of Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Violence

In May 2024 (BC’s) Attorney General appointed Dr. Kim Stanton to conduct an independent review of the Province’s treatment of victims and survivors of intimate partner and sexual violence in the legal system, and to propose improvements. Dr. Stanton released her Final Report (the Report) in June 2025. The Report confirms what we’ve been hearing from survivors and frontline advocates for years—intimate partner and sexual violence remain pervasive, drastically underreported, and often met with systemic barriers in the legal system. In short, intimate partner and sexual violence are a systemic crisis.

Victoria Women’s Transition House Society (VWTH) welcomes the Fall 2025 update to the Stanton Systemic Review and recognizes it as an important step toward a more coordinated, survivor-centred response to intimate partner violence in British Columbia.

We are particularly encouraged by the formal inclusion of anti-violence sector organizations within the Reference Group structure. For years, frontline workers have documented systemic barriers that place survivors at risk. The inclusion of organizations such as Ending Violence Association of BC and the BC Society of Transition Houses ensures that lived realities and frontline expertise are no longer siloed, but are meaningfully informing policy development and government decision-making.

The proposed federal criminalization of coercive control is another critical advancement. VWTH has long supported women who experience surveillance, isolation, financial abuse, and other controlling behaviours that fall outside traditional definitions of violence. Recognizing coercive control in law provides much-needed language and legal grounding for patterns of harm we see every day, and creates clearer pathways to protection before abuse escalates to physical violence.

We also support efforts to strengthen victim rights and expand testimonial aids. Survivors often experience re-traumatization when navigating the justice system, and any means of reducing this burden allows frontline workers to focus more fully on safety planning, healing, and long-term stability.

Cross-government coordination is essential. When justice, health, child welfare, and social services operate with shared frameworks and language, survivors encounter fewer gaps, delays, and contradictions. Streamlined referrals and aligned systems translate directly into more consistent, effective support for women and children.

While legislative and systemic reviews are vital, implementation will determine their impact. New laws must be accompanied by sustained funding commitments to support training, staffing, court capacity, and program development. Frontline organizations cannot absorb expanded responsibilities without corresponding resources.

VWTH remains committed to working alongside government and sector partners to ensure these reforms are implemented in ways that truly enhance safety, dignity, and justice for survivors. Meaningful change requires not only strong policy, but the investment and accountability necessary to make it real in women’s lives.

Bahar Dehnadi
Executive Direcor, Victoria Women’s Transition House