PILLAR 04
Survivor Rights & System Stabilization
Every survivor of child sexual abuse deserves access to consistent, high-quality care - no matter where in Canada they live. PROTECT Canada is working to make that a reality.
WHAT IS THIS ABOUT?
If your child needs support after experiencing abuse, they should be able to get it, wherever you live.
When a child experiences sexual abuse, the right support can make an enormous difference to long-term healing. Trauma-informed therapy, stable relationships with trained professionals, and a clear path through recovery matter enormously.
HOW DOES THIS AFFECT YOUR CHILD?
In Canada, access depends heavily on where you live. Rural and remote families often have few options. Wait times for trauma-specific therapy can stretch for months. If a family moves across provincial lines, support may not transfer with them.
WHAT CAN YOU DO RIGHT NOW?
Advocacy actions you can take today
Find support for your family
PROTECT is not a service provider - we point you to organizations that are.
Contact PROTECT Canada
Share your experience of system gaps if you choose to.
Take action on portable care
Tell elected officials that survivor supports should follow the child.
RESOURCES FOR PARENTS
Guides, tools, and where to go next
PROTECT Canada is a policy initiative. For direct support, use partner services. For advocacy, use the action hub.
What this means for your family
If your child needs support, the system should provide it - not put you on a waiting list or send you away because the right service doesn’t exist in your community.
THE SYSTEMIC PROBLEM
The absence of national minimum service standards produces inequitable survivor outcomes and unsustainable service delivery infrastructure.
There are no national minimum standards for therapeutic services available to child survivors. Short-term competitive grant models produce planning uncertainty and undermine continuity of care. Cross-jurisdictional care portability is largely absent.
KEY AREAS OF FOCUS
- National minimum standards for child survivor support services
- Cross-jurisdictional portability of survivor care
- Canadian Victims Bill of Rights / Bill C-16 enhancements
- Transition to multi-year sustainable funding models
- Workforce development standards for trauma-informed practitioners
- Data and outcomes measurement framework
LEGISLATIVE CONTEXT
Bills, statutes, and policy landscape
Canadian Victims Bill of Rights and Bill C-16 provisions provide the primary federal legislative framework. Comparative models include Australia’s National Office for Child Safety and UK NHS specialist services frameworks.
WORKING GROUP & RESOURCES
Survivor Rights Working Group
- Survivor Rights Working Group service standards outline
- Funding model options papers
- Outcomes measurement framework drafts
LATEST NEWS & UPDATES FOR PILLAR 4
Legislation changes, coalition news, media, new resources for this pillar.
APRIL 2026
Survivor Rights WG drafts service standards outline
Scope, evidence base, and quality indicators under development.
MARCH 2026
Funding model options paper in progress
Multi-year block and formula-based approaches.
Take action on this pillar
Your voice strengthens the push for reform. Share what you’ve learned or contact your representative to let them know child protection is a priority.
Join the working group
We are actively seeking experts from legal, academic, clinical, and survivor advocacy sectors to contribute to policy submissions and research outputs.
