Report finds many northern Ontario sex assault survivors can’t collect evidence needed in court

Survivors of sexual assault in northern Ontario face major barriers when trying to access timely, according to a new report by She Matters, a Sudbury-based organization.

The study, Does Geography Impact Access to Justice?, found that distance, lack of staffing and a shortage of trained forensic nurses make it harder for survivors in northern and rural areas to get sexual assault evidence kits — also known as “rape kits.”

Those kits are often the main piece of evidence in the few sexual assault cases that make it trial.

“Geography does impact your ability to access both forensic evidence collection and support resources,” said Jacqueline Villeneuve-Ahmed, founder and director of She Matters.

“For some it was having to be transported to a hub city like ours, and for others we spoke to it was not having access to a timely examination.”

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