AASAS calls for more funding as sexual violence cases continue to climb – Lethbridge | 24CA News
The Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Service (AASAS) stated instances of sexual violence are on the rise in our province.
A survey of 1,500 individuals carried out by AASAS in 2020 discovered 43 per cent of respondents have skilled sexual violence — at the very least as soon as of their lifetime.
Thirty-four per cent of these respondents stated it occurred after they have been youngsters.
“Survivors are everywhere — they’re your friends, your family, your colleagues, and they’re coming forward, and they need help and we don’t have the capacity to meet the level of demand we are seeing now,” stated Deb Tomlinson, CEO of The Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services.
Tomlinson highlights in elements of the province, survivors are ready greater than a yr to obtain counselling.
AASAS introduced a business case to the province in 2020 to stipulate the necessity for elevated funding.
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“Recently, we got our first response which was for only one year of funding with no help for prevention, no help for justice; that’s just not workable,” stated Tomlinson
The province, in an announcement to Global News stated: “Sexual assault centres provide critical supports to victims impacted emotionally, mentally and physically from sexual violence. Alberta’s government is committed to combatting sexual violence and ensuring proper care is available to victims.
“Following Budget 2020, we increased budgets for sexual assault centres over three years, bringing our ministry’s sexual violence prevention funding to $13.8 million in 2022-23. Overall government provides over $17 million across four ministries.
The proposal from AASAS will be reviewed over the coming months.”
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“We can’t wait for this to be even more of a crisis than what it is already,” stated Kristine Cassie, CEO of the Chinook Sexual Assault Centre.
AASAS is asking for a further $13 million in funding to offset the necessity for continued care and early prevention assets.
Cassie stated it’s a rising want in southern Alberta.
“We’re just in our fourth year of operations,” stated Cassie. “Even last year, we saw a 37 per cent jump in people seeking help from our agency, so we know this is just going to continue to grow.”
It’s a actuality advocates hope is prime of thoughts for the federal government forward of its subsequent price range.
“Survivors are counting on you,” stated Tomlinson.
© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
