Three community organizations will team up to host a panel discussion about how to change the way Kelownasa国际传媒檚 RCMP detachment helps sexual assault survivors.
Spearheaded by the Central Okanagan Elizabeth Fry Society, UBC Okanagan and the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office, the panel will discuss ways to improve accountability and structural change within the local police force.
The panel follows intense backlash against the RCMP last fall, after sa国际传媒 revealed the RCMP deemed 40 per cent of sexual assault cases as sa国际传媒渦nfoundedsa国际传媒� in 2019.
READ MORE: sa国际传媒楽teeped in rape culturesa国际传媒�: Sexual assault survivor speaks out against Kelowna RCMP
sa国际传媒淪exual assault is a big point of discussion in the community and we really wanted to try to put together an event that would provide more of an opportunity for the community to come together and be involved in the discussion,sa国际传媒� said Mandy Glinsbockel, Elizabeth Frysa国际传媒檚 community engagement coordinator.
Aden Withers, who is one of four panelists and a sexual violence activist and survivor, said she hopes the panel will demonstrate the need for a dedicated sexual assault unit within the local police detachment.
sa国际传媒淲e as a community need to come together and make demands of the RCMP to better their services and put in place a sexual assault unit,sa国际传媒� said Withers.
She added that officers and personnel need to be trained to deal with sexual assault cases because it will keep the RCMP more accountable and provide victims with better care.
READ MORE: Petition calls for sexual assault investigation unit within Kelowna RCMP
sa国际传媒淎ccountability to me looks like specially trained officers handling sexual assault cases, increasing funding for organizations like Elizabeth Fry for more trauma counselling sessions and a properly trained advocate to be present during all sexual assault cases,sa国际传媒� she said.
She also said structural change within the police force also needs to happen.
sa国际传媒淲e as a community need to work within the RCMP to change the stigma behind sexual assault here in Kelowna. We as survivors often have to face negative stereotypes because our community is quite stuck in a traditional mindsetsa国际传媒ur RCMP should be at the forefront when it comes to debunking rape myths,sa国际传媒� said Withers.
sa国际传媒淚 want to open the discussion by debunking the stigma behind sexual abuse. One in five individuals is sexually abused and so often, itsa国际传媒檚 not talked about because of how people view rape or victims of rape.sa国际传媒�
The Central Okanagan Elizabeth Fry Societysa国际传媒檚 executive director Michelle Novakowski said Kelowna is past due for a dedicated sex crimes unit.
sa国际传媒淲e really need one. That would mean thatsa国际传媒檚 all the officers are dedicated to, to investigate sexual assault reports and take them,sa国际传媒� Novakowski said.
sa国际传媒淭hey need trauma-informed training, so they understand why a survivorsa国际传媒檚 story doesnsa国际传媒檛 come linear, the way it does when you have a break and enter or something.
sa国际传媒淭he brain responds to this kind of trauma and itsa国际传媒檚 not always available to clearly talk about it.sa国际传媒�
The Kelowna RCMP is currently conducting an internal review to find out why 40 per cent of sexual assault cases in 2019 were deemed unfounded, dwarfing the 15 per cent average across the province.
The panel will be held at UBCOsa国际传媒檚 student union building Jan. 22, 4:30 p.m.
For more information on the panel, visit the .
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