-
Caption: Minister of Justice Brad Cathers, Minister responsible for the Women's Directorate Elaine Taylor, and Yukon Advisory Council on Women's Issues chair Kim Solonick.
(Download high res)
WHITEHORSE—The Government of Yukon is providing $281,000 in funding over three years, subject to legislative approval, for a pilot legal advocate position to help meet the needs of women navigating the legal system.
“Today’s announcement is the result of the extensive groundwork done by the Yukon Advisory Council on Women’s Issues and the implementation of Sharing Common Ground recommendations,” Minister responsible for the Women’s Directorate Elaine Taylor said.
The creation of a women’s legal advocate position is in response to recommendations in the Review of Yukon’s Police Force final report, Sharing Common Ground, and in the Yukon Advisory Council on Women’s Issues report, Gaps, Needs and Options: Legal Advocacy for Yukon Women.
The initiative will provide legal system training for service providers working with women, help victims of crimes get access to initial legal consultation, increase collaboration between agencies, and include an evaluation of the women’s legal advocate pilot project.
“Moving this recommendation forward is a significant achievement, and we are pleased to fund it through a partnership between the Department of Justice and the Women’s Directorate,” Minister of Justice Brad Cathers said.
Yukon Advisory Council on Women’s Issues chair Kim Solonick said: “As an advisory body, we developed the Gaps, Needs and Options report as a method to help explore the Review of Yukon’s Police Force’s recommendation to consider a legal advocate to support women. Many stakeholders were consulted and responded with insightful feedback, which we used to identify gaps in legal services for women that we believe can be successfully addressed by a legal advocate and supporting activities.”
The next steps include issuing an expression of interest for a Yukon non-governmental organization to host the advocate.
Learn more: Gaps, Needs and Options: Legal Advocacy for Yukon Women
-30-
Contact:
Elaine Schiman
Cabinet Communications
867-633-7961
elaine.schiman@gov.yk.ca
Joanna Lilley
Communications, Women’s Directorate
867-667-5341
joanna.lilley@gov.yk.ca
