Niki Sharma, Attorney General; Nina Krieger, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General; and Jennifer Blatherwick, parliamentary secretary for gender equity, have released the following statements in recognition of Prevention of Violence Against Women Week:

Niki Sharma, Attorney General, said:

“Prevention of Violence Against Women Week is a reminder of a hard truth: Too many women and girls in B.C. experience gender-based violence, often in silence and often without the justice and safety they deserve.

“This is unacceptable. Survivors deserve to be believed, protected and supported by our institutions and communities, every step of the way.

“We have been working alongside survivors, advocates, justice and Indigenous partners to eradicate this crisis. Just over this past year, we’ve secured federal Criminal Code reforms shaped by B.C.’s priorities, advanced work on key recommendations from the Stanton Report to strengthen how our justice system responds to intimate-partner violence and taken steps to address emerging forms of sexual violence, such as increasing the maximum damages victims of intimate-image abuse can seek in B.C., making clear that this type of abuse carries serious consequences. We are also improving supports for people fleeing family violence during separation and divorce.

“But government action alone is not enough. Prevention starts with all of us challenging harmful attitudes, speaking out, supporting survivors and building systems rooted in safety and respect.

“This week and every week, we recommit to this work. Survivors in B.C. deserve nothing less than a system they can trust and a society that will not look away.”

Nina Krieger, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, said:

“Prevention of Violence Against Women Week is an opportunity to recognize the deep and disproportionate harm that violence has on women, girls and gender-diverse people. Our government is committed to preventing this violence and to ensuring that services and supports are available to people when they need them.

“That’s why we created our Gender-Based Violence Action Plan to develop tangible actions to support survivors and to keep women and girls safe in our province. It’s also why we provide more than $60 million annually to support more than 475 victim-service and violence-against-women prevention programs throughout the province, including 70 sexual-assault services and five sexual-assault centres, which have expanded access to supports. These programs are helping women throughout B.C. get the help they need to escape and recover from violence.

“We know there is more that needs to be done and we will continue working to ensure all people in British Columbia can live without fear of violence.”

Jennifer Blatherwick, parliamentary secretary for gender equity, said:

“Gender-based violence affects people in every community – urban and rural – and occurs at home, at work and in schools. Prevention of Violence Against Women Week helps us raise awareness about this systemic crisis and the serious, sustained and co-ordinated action that needs to be done.

“The Province’s gender-based violence action plan includes concrete measures to prevent harm, strengthen responses and ensure survivors can access timely care and support. The action plan is being shaped through ongoing collaboration with Indigenous partners, and informed by front-line service providers, an advisory committee and community advocates. Projects funded through this plan are well underway, and we look forward to sharing information about future initiatives in the coming months.

“Addressing gender-based violence requires collective action to confront its root causes. Our government is committed to advancing this work.”

Learn More:

• For supports available for survivors of gender-based violence, sexual assault or domestic violence, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/public-safety/domestic-violence
• To read Safe and Supported: B.C.’s Gender-Based Violence Action Plan, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/about-the-bc-government/gender-equity/ending-gender-based-violence
• To read B.C.’s response to the federal Criminal Code reform bills, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/33130
• To read the latest Stanton Report update , visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/law-crime-and-justice/about-bc-justice-system/justice-reform-initiatives/systemic-review/stanton_report_fall_2025_update.pdf
• To read more about the Intimate Images Protection Act, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/33489
• To read more about the Early Resolution Process, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/EarlyResolution
• To read more about the Family Law Act Modernization Project, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/32686