Family law is a provincial responsibility, and in 2011, a new Family Law was passed in BC. It clarifies parental responsibilities, the division of assets if relationships break down, assessment criteria to be considered in cases of family violence, and encourages families to resolve their disputes out of court. These changes are documented in our June 2019, Family & Youth Matters Report. (See Sub-committee reports.)
http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/11025_01
Members of VFCYJ Committee take an Oath to protect the identity of youth and work to maintain a safe space for these discussions. The protections in the Federal Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) ban the identification of young persons – including in print, radio, television or through social media such as Facebook or YouTube.
https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/cj-jp/yj-jj/tools-outils/sheets-feuillets/publi-publi.html
We have appointments from all 13 municipal governments in the Capital Regional District, the Capital Regional District Board, and 3 School Districts. We are assisted by representatives from all ministries who work with youth and families and liaise with youth serving agencies, including police, probation, and health to gain an understanding of the issues for youth and families, and to advocate for access to appropriate support services.
We educate the public and document issues we become aware of for senior governments relating to Family Law or Youth Justice including: Human Rights and The United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). As a result of the UNCRC and the collective efforts of Canadians advocating for better outcomes for young people (including a submission from VFCYJC), youth criminal laws in Canada underwent major changes in 2003 resulting in the Youth Criminal Justice Act (previously the Young Offenders Act).
We are concerned with the overrepresentation of Indigenous Youth in the Justice System and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) which enshrines the rights that “constitute the minimum standards for the survival, dignity and well-being of indigenous people.” In 2019, BC became the first province to table legislation supporting UNDRIP. Our Committee has included Reconciliation in our strategic plan to support Indigenous families who require Family Law support or are impacted by the YCJA. We try to find ways to reduce their overrepresentation.
We have a Court Watch subcommittee who have observed and documented Family Court processes, and the ‘machine- like process’ that gives families little time to prepare, understand or seek accommodation. Very few Indigenous systems of justice are available in the CRD but the Native Court in Duncan has been observed as have Native Court Workers who both can offer valuable services. We also get direct reports from Restorative Justice agencies and invite key resources including police, probation, and Ministries to inform the committee.
Our Committee was reviewed by the federal government in its 2003 ‘A National Survey of Youth Justice Committees in Canada’. Victoria Family Court and Youth Justice Committee is designated by the Attorney General of BC (one of only two committees so designated). All of Canada’s Acts and Regulations can be found on the Justice Canada Laws website.
Yours truly,
Cynthia Day
A note from Restorative Justice Victoria's Julie Cormier,
Girls Circle Community Project, Program Manager
"Thanks to funding opportunities, we are offering two online programs staring in January, with a meet-and-greet taking place in December, for up to 8 girls, non-binary and gender diverse youth.
Girls Circle is a violence prevention program that aims to equip girls with the skills, knowledge and connections needed to grow their personal power, self-esteem and abilities to advocate for themselves. The weekly groups involve dynamic discussions and activities using critical education and social-emotional learning to center on their needs, experiences and intersections, compassionately respond to their barriers, challenges and strengths, and collectively challenge gender norms and cultural expectations. This is a trauma-informed, strength-based initiative that aims to serve girls who are experiencing low mental health and/or experiencing bullying, harassment or abuse.
As a participant-led circle, girls will explore a variety of topics, such as body image, self-care, gender stereotypes, interconnection, perspective taking, empathy and compassion, bullying and violence, self- and social awareness, values, identity mapping, and media and self-image. By boosting their critical thinking and social-emotional intelligence, girls are able to flourish beyond the confines of harmful cultural expectations of being a girl."
Follow Us