Huge jump in sexual assault help requests at legal clinic

TORONTO

The Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic, a Toronto legal clinic dedicated to fighting violence against women says a record number of women are seeking help for experiences with sexual assault.

Staff there have seen an 83 per cent increase in the number of requests for sexual assault counselling in the past year.

The number of requests may reflect a more prominent conversation around sexual violence and misconduct.

Those discussions and the fall out of sexual misconduct allegations have rocked the worlds of politics, sports and entertainment over the past months.

The shift has been highlighted by the rise of the #MeToo movement, in which women share personal stories to illustrate the widespread prevalence of sexual violence.

Naturally such stories in the media mean that there will be pressure on the feminist friendly provincial and federal governments to step up and match their rhetoric with their cheque books.  –CINEWS