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The British Columbia government is taking steps to promote public awareness and prevention of domestic violence.
The province launched a three-year, $5.5-million Provincial Domestic Violence Plan this year after extensive public anti-violence stakeholder consultations. “The plan aims to enhance services and bridge potential service gaps to ensure that women, children, and all those who have been affected by domestic violence have access to the supports and services they need,” said Children and Family Development Minister Stephanie Cadieux and Attorney General and Minister of Justice Suzanne Anton in a statement on Wednesday.
With the new plan, the Ministry of Justice developed a framework to provide guidance on the best practices for establishing domestic violence court processes in B.C. There are now distinct court processes in Kelowna, Penticton, Kamloops, as well as other communities throughout the province. “The plan supplements our more than $70-million annual investment in prevention and intervention services, and the $3.4 million in civil forfeiture grants we provided this year to support initiatives that prevent violence against women,” they said.
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After the deaths of Oak Bay residents Christian Lee, Sunny Park, and their family, the province responded with the formation of the Capital Region domestic violence unit, which brought together police, victim services, and an MCFD-dedicated social worker. Child welfare workers and other professionals have undergone new training, and protocols to ensure more effective communication between police, government, and community agencies have been implemented.
The province has also recently made a number of legislative changes that focuses on the interests of the children first when police and child welfare workers respond to cases of domestic violence. Contact between family members has also been limited when there is a risk of family violence.
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