The good news of #metoo

Journalists are often criticized for only reporting bad news. Here is a good one that deserves to be highlighted: five years after the electroshock of the #metoo movement, its impact in Quebec is exceptional.

Even if much remains to be done, the courage of the victims combined with rigorous journalistic investigations and an exemplary cross-party mobilization at the National Assembly have truly made it possible to make giant strides.

Former PQ MP Véronique Hivon, who finished cleaning her office this week to start a new chapter in her life after 14 years in politics, can say mission accomplished.

“I’m still proud that the political class has mobilized,” she says, while being careful not to take credit for the progress made – including the creation of a court specializing in sexual and domestic violence. for which she fought.

If the #metoo movement made things happen, it is first and foremost thanks to the great courage of the victims who spoke up, she insists. Their voices have revealed the extent of the problem of sexual violence in our society, which we believe to be so advanced.

As an elected official, Véronique Hivon felt a responsibility to live up to this courage. This is why, in the wake of #metoo, she challenged the Minister of Justice and Minister responsible for the Status of Women at the time, Sonia LeBel, who accepted her outstretched hand.

This resulted in a first, which we hope will not be a last: four elected women from four different parties, including a minister in power, working hand in hand for common objectives to restore confidence in the justice system after #metoo and better support victims.

“It was exceptional. It was the first time that the executive branch was part of a cross-party committee. »

To those who ask: “What difference does women in politics make?” “We have there an encouraging start to an answer, believes Véronique Hivon.

The transpartisan committee — formed in its pre-election version of the outgoing Minister responsible for the Status of Women Isabelle Charest as well as MPs Christine Labrie (QS), Isabelle Melançon (PLQ) and Véronique Hivon — proved to be extremely effective. He commissioned a group of experts to draw up a game plan. A voluminous report of 190 recommendations was tabled in December 2020.

We often talk about the beautiful expert reports that die on shelves. Fortunately, this is not the fate reserved for the excellent report rebuild trust. Less than two years later, the majority of its recommendations, integrated into Quebec’s 2022-2027 strategy on sexual and domestic violence, have been embraced by the CAQ government.

“It exceeds our expectations,” Julie Desrosiers, a law professor at Laval University, who co-chaired the committee of experts with former chief justice of the Court of Quebec Élizabeth Corte, told me without hesitation.

Ex-judge Corte goes one better. “In general, despite the fact that it is not always as we would have liked, the government response has been extraordinary. »

It must be said that we started from afar, underlines Véronique Hivon. “I think we were so late that we really had to work twice as hard! »

Even if the progress remains fragile, the former MP is, like the co-chairs of the committee of experts, delighted with the progress made.

There was the creation of a specialized tribunal, of course, which was the most publicized initiative. But there have also been a host of others that have been less talked about and that can really make all the difference in a victim’s life.

Julie Desrosiers’ favourite? The Rebâtir telephone line set up at Legal Aid, which offers four hours of free legal advice to victims of sexual or domestic violence, in all areas of the law. “It’s a great team that really comes to meet a need. »

Among the other initiatives worthy of mention, there was also the creation of the first integrated service center in Quebec. Such a center allows any victim of sexual or domestic violence as well as their children to receive all the necessary services free of charge (police, lawyer, psychosocial worker, nurse, etc.) under one roof, without having to repeat their story. multiple times.

Another initiative that can save lives is emergency financial assistance for victims, who are often isolated and impoverished. This allows, for example, a worker who is aware that a woman is experiencing conjugal violence to obtain for her, within 24 hours, the financial support necessary to quickly leave a dangerous home.

We must also salute the fact that the Barreau du Québec is working on a guide to best practices in terms of interrogation and cross-examination for victims, underlines Élizabeth Corte. “It’s something the defense attorneys did. It is important to mention that everyone is making an effort. »

If things are improving, they are still changing quite slowly. You can’t change a system, and even less a culture, in five years… So much so that people who have been hurt in the #MeToo movement have the impression that their speaking out hasn’t been of much use.

To these, Julie Desrosiers would like to say this: “I know that several victims have come out to denounce the failings of the justice system for others. I want them to know that it worked and things are getting better. »

All is not yet settled, of course.

One of the key recommendations of the report rebuild trust was the creation of a secretariat with the decision-making power and the necessary authority to coordinate the implementation of action plans and report to the highest level of the government organization. The committee of experts suggested that this body come under the Ministère du Conseil exécutif.

This recommendation was only partially followed. The government has given additional levers and resources to the Secretariat for the Status of Women (SCF) in the wake of the report rebuild trust. This has enabled the creation of a new directorate for the fight against sexual violence and domestic violence within the SCF, which is responsible for ensuring the implementation and consistency of government commitments, much like a chief orchestra.

Is it sufficient ? Even if she has no doubt that the SCF is doing a good job, Véronique Hivon believes that we could go further.

“Having a minister who is named specifically responsible for these issues or creating a body that reports to the executive would send the signal that the work is continuing and that it is a priority. It would be a strong symbol. »

A way, after the trauma of #metoo and the awareness that this has brought about, to say loud and clear: we too, as a society, are aware that there is still a lot to do and that we must not let go.