As part of the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, Battered Women’s Support Services (BWSS) is proud to release its latest report, Justice or Just a Piece of Paper? Protection Orders in British Columbia. Based on research conducted in 2023 with frontline workers and victims-survivors across BC, this report provides a crucial examination of protection orders and peace bonds, exposing systemic barriers that compromise victim-survivors’ safety and offering actionable solutions.
The report is a product of Justice Centre at BWSS, an innovative community-based legal advocacy clinic launched in April 2023. Offering trauma and violence-informed, multilingual, and culturally responsive legal services, the Justice Centre at BWSS has supported over 4,000 victims and survivors of intimate partner violence and gender-based violence in the past two years.
A Crisis of Gender-Based Violence in BC
Femicide rates in BC have reached critical levels. So far in 2024, 20 women were killed due to femicide—double the average annual rate between 2010 and 2015. Preliminary data indicates this trend has persisted in 2023 and 2024, underscoring an urgent need for systemic reform.
The report also responds to the tragic case of Stephanie Forster, a Coquitlam woman murdered despite having a protection order against her ex-husband, Gianluigi Derossi. This case, along with countless others, demonstrates the critical need for more robust enforcement of protection orders to hold police to their responsibilities to enforce the law and to hold abusive partners accountable to prevent further harm
“Survivors and frontline workers have told us about the gaps in the legal system—barriers that often leave women unprotected and vulnerable,” says Angela Marie MacDougall, Executive Director of BWSS. “This report amplifies their voices and outlines the changes needed to turn promises of protection into real safety.”
Key Recommendations to Address Systemic Failures
Mandatory Coroner’s Inquests for Femicide Deaths:
Two-Year Minimum Duration for Protection Orders and Peace Bonds:
Full-Length Protection Orders on Without Notice Applications:
Child Safety as a Priority in Protection Order Applications:
Universal Enforcement of Protection Orders:
Advancing Systemic Change for Survivor Safety
The Justice Centre at BWSS represents a bold evolution of its former Legal Services and Advocacy Program. With funding from The Law Foundation of BC, the Federal Ministry of Justice, My Sister’s Closet, and individual donors, the Justice Centre has expanded its capacity to include racial justice initiatives, survivor-centered advocacy, and specialized training for legal professionals.
“Through the Justice Centre at BWSS, we’re addressing the realities survivors face, including systemic discrimination and barriers to accessing justice,” says Summer-Rain, Manager of the Justice Centre at BWSS. “This report reflects their lived experiences and the urgent need for reform.”
Advancing Systemic Change for Survivor Safety
The findings in this report were informed by extensive research conducted in 2023. Over the course of the year, BWSS engaged with frontline workers and victims-survivors across BC to gather firsthand accounts of their experiences with protection orders and peace bonds. These voices form the foundation of the report, ensuring its recommendations are rooted in the realities of those directly impacted.
Join the Conversation
The release of this report is a key moment in the 16 Days of Activism, a global campaign to end violence against women and gender-based violence. BWSS invites community members, policymakers, and advocates to engage with the report’s findings and take collective action to create safer, more equitable systems for victims and survivors.
Together, we can make justice more than just a piece of paper.
You are not alone.
If you or someone you love is in need of support, please contact the Battered Women’s Support Services Crisis Line:
Call toll-free: 1-855-687-1868 Metro Vancouver: 604-687-1867 Email: EndingViolence@bwss.org
