Niki Sharma, Attorney General, has released the following statement marking Access to Justice Week, Feb. 2-6, 2026:

“Every year, Access to Justice Week provides an opportunity to reflect on how we can continue building a justice system that serves everyone fairly and equally in British Columbia.

“This year’s theme – What works, what doesn’t, and how do we know? – speaks to the importance of a system that evolves, listens and learns. Our government is committed to hearing people’s experiences and taking action. That commitment is driving real progress, especially over the past year.

“We listened when survivors and front-line advocates told us B.C.’s treatment of victims and survivors of intimate partner and sexual violence in the legal system falls well short of what’s needed. Their stories are why I appointed Kim Stanton to conduct an independent review and propose improvements to the system. Since receiving her report, we have advanced work related to 13 of her recommendations, all centred on better protecting victims and survivors.

“We are also improving protections for people whose intimate images were shared without consent by increasing maximum monetary damages and enhancing privacy for victims.

“We took immediate action when people in British Columbia expressed concerns about repeat offenders and public safety in their communities. Their concerns are why I worked alongside victims, families and community partners to secure federal bail and Criminal Code reforms last fall to keep people safe and hold perpetrators accountable.

“And we listened when families told us that family law in B.C. needs to reflect the realities of modern society and ensure children and youth have a meaningful voice at the table. We’re taking their feedback into account as we continue work on a multi-phase project to update and improve our laws to meet the needs of families throughout the province. And the expansion of the early resolution process is helping families resolve issues faster and outside of costly, adversarial court processes.

“These are just some of the initiatives underway to transform our justice system in B.C., but we know there is much more to do to create better services for the people who rely on them.

“As we mark Access to Justice Week, we reaffirm our commitment to listening to diverse voices and building a justice system that is responsive, inclusive and accessible for everyone in British Columbia.”