The Sexual Assault Action Table, or Sexual Assault Advisory Committee, seeks to improve the experience of survivors of sexual violence across the continuum of services, increase accountability of perpetrators of sexual violence, and ultimately eradicate sexual violence.
The Table has completed a review of sexual assault investigations by the Halton Regional Police Service. Recommendations have been provided to the Halton Police Board to make it easier for survivors to come forward.
The Sexual Assault Advisory Committee, in conjunction with the Halton Regional Police Training Bureau, has designed and introduced a comprehensive e-learning program. The program is designed to enhance the ability of all sworn police officers to engage with survivors in the most professional and empathetic manner possible. The training focuses on topics which relate directly to the role of a police officer such as rape myths and the neurobiology of trauma. To-date, more than 800 officers have been trained on how to support and respond to survivors of sexual assault.
Over the course of the past year the new “Survivors Voices” website has been developed, enhanced and expanded. The website was funded by a Halton Region Community Investment Fund grant of $9,040 in 2020. The website has a confidential forum for all survivors of sexual violence to provide their feedback about their experience to the Halton sexual assault service provider of their choice. The site provides up-to-date information about the investigative and criminal justice process, trauma responses, consent, and information about different aspects of sexual violence. Additionally, there are stories and art from women with lived experience of abuse. Essentially the website is a one-stop community platform to receive information, resources and support.