Full Statement from SOAR Initiative Canada

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On April 25th 2024, the New York Court of Appeals overturned the ruling in the 2020 Harvey Weinstein felony sex crime conviction, claiming that testimony used to demonstrate a pattern of behaviour of sexual harassment and assault was “irrelevant to this case.”

We at SOAR Initiative Canada are deeply disappointed by this decision.

Unfortunately, the overturning of rape convictions is not uncommon. In December of 2023 in Ontario, Canada, a Superior Court Justice threw out a sexual assault case due to delay—a violation of the defendant’s right to a speedy trial—AFTER a guilty conviction had already been delivered by the jurors.

Our hearts go out to all survivors who have come forward to tell their stories, as well as their loved ones who are learning of this upsetting and disappointing news. This decision not only undermines the pursuit of justice in this particular case, but also sends a distressing message to victims and survivors everywhere.

When justice is denied or revoked, it inflicts further trauma and erodes trust in the legal system. Survivors courageously step forward to seek justice, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure that their voices are heard and their experiences are validated.

We are deeply disappointed by the ongoing disparity in the treatment of victims of sexual violence in our justice system. While defendants are afforded a range of rights and protections, victims too often find themselves marginalized and retraumatized throughout legal proceedings. It is fundamentally unjust that victims, who have already endured immense trauma, are not given equal consideration and support in the pursuit of justice.

This disparity perpetuates a culture of disbelief and discourages survivors from coming forward to report crimes, including when convictions are overturned in such high-profile cases.

We urge policymakers, law enforcement agencies, and legal authorities to prioritize the rights and needs of survivors in their decision-making processes. We also urge Benjamin Roebuck, Federal Ombudsperson for Victims of Crime to extensively review the statistics on overturned rape convictions during their systemic investigation of the treatment of survivors of sexual assault in the Canadian Justice System.

Our justice system must reflect a genuine commitment to holding perpetrators accountable and providing meaningful support to survivors.

SOAR Initiative Canada reaffirms our unwavering support for survivors of sexual violence. We stand with them in solidarity, offering our compassion, resources, and commitment to advocating for the elimination of the barriers they face—from seeking treatment and care in the immediate aftermath of the assault, to their navigation of the criminal justice system, and through their long-term healing journey as a whole. 

Every survivor deserves to be believed, supported, and empowered on their journey towards healing and justice.