Quebec Bar releases recommendations on how courts deal with sexual assault

The Quebec Bar Association wants to make it easier for alleged victims of sexual assault to have their cases heard in court.

A working group set up by the barhas come up with a list of recommendations including a call for legislative changesfor Quebec police forces, lawyers and the provincial government.

The association said it created the group to examine how sexual assault cases are handled throughoutthe judicial process, following the Jian Ghomeshisexual assault accusations and trial, as well as a Globe and Mail investigation that found a large number of cases are declared unfounded by police forces across Canada.

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Paul-MatthieuGrondin, the head of the Quebec bar, said the recommendations are "avenues of action and reflection that can improve the justice system. The bar believes action must be taken immediately to ensure fairer treatment for victims of sexual violence."

"As a society, we must act," Grondinadded.

The recommendationsinclude:

• Reviewingsexual assault allegations thrown out by police in which a social worker helped file the report.
• Makingsure sexual assault files are handled by police officers who are part of specialized sexual assault units
• Providingallpolice officers withone hour of sensitivity training about how to approach alleged victims.
• Providingfree or affordable legal consultations to alleged victimsand increasingthe visibility of reference services to find lawyers.
• Providingdefence lawyers with training on best practices for cross-examining vulnerable people, including alleged victims of sexual assault.
• Amending the Quebec law that lays out the regulations governing the compensation ofcrime victims. It says compensation claims should be granted "without regard to the behaviour of the victim of sexual assault."

The recommendations, the result of work that began nearly a year ago, coincide with the growing momentum of the #MeToomovement in the weeks since the firing of American film producer Harvey Weinsteinover a slewof allegations he'd sexually harassed and abused women for years with impunity.

The list of alleged perpetrators grows daily and includes a number of Quebec media personalities and entertainers, including Just for Laughs co-founder, Gilbert Rozon.

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The association says it wanted to release its recommendations before aforum on sexual violence which the provincial government is planning.