Federal Ombudsperson Report - “Rethinking Justice for Survivors of Sexual Violence”

Children and youth are among the most vulnerable to sexual violence – at Luna, 75% of the cases we respond to involve sexual abuse, exploitation, or risk of exploitation. We see firsthand how deeply young people are affected and how urgently reform is needed. 

That is why we welcome the Office of the Federal Ombudsperson for Victims of Crime’s new systematic investigation, Rethinking Justice for Survivors of Sexual Violence, particularly Recommendation 4.3, calling for a coordinated national justice strategy to protect children and youth, and Recommendation 9.3, calling for sustained funding for child and youth advocacy centres (CYACs). 

The Ombudsperson’s findings echo what survivors and advocates have long understood: Canada’s justice system must do better for young people. Despite progress in trauma-informed practice, too many children and youth continue to navigate adult-oriented processes that can retraumatize, silence, or deter them from seeking justice, reinforcing barriers to healing and long-term wellbeing. 

The report offers a clear and urgently needed path forward – one grounded in children’s rights, trauma-informed practice, and systemic accountability. It also recognizes the essential role of CYACs like Luna in providing coordinated, child-friendly supports, including law enforcement, child protection, medical care, mental health services, and court preparation in one safe, integrated setting. All Luna partners, including Alberta Justice, share a strong commitment to trauma-informed, child-centred practice that ensures children and families are informed, supported, and able to pursue the justice they deserve. 

Luna strongly supports the call to expand and sustainably fund CYACs across Canada so every child and youth can access the support they need. Canada has the knowledge and capacity to build a system that protects rather than harms, and this report provides a pivotal opportunity to move from fragmented responses to a justice system that truly centres the rights and well-being of young survivors. 

Luna stands ready to work with partners, policymakers, and communities across Alberta and Canada to turn these recommendations into action so that every child and youth can seek justice without added trauma, barriers, or inequity.