The federal government has given $374,000 to the Yukon Status of Women Council for its Yukon Advocate Case Review project.

The funding was announced Wednesday afternoon in a green space near the Victoria Faulkner Women’s Centre.

Yukon MP Larry Bagnell said this is part of the government’s commitment to address and prevent gender-based violence.

The government sees this as an issue important to all Canadians, as everyone deserves to live in safety and be protected by the court system.

“Unfortunately, this is not the case for many of the women and girls who experience gender-based violence,” Bagnell said.

The MP called such violence significant yet preventable.

He explained the government started the “It’s Time” strategy to promote gender equality and prevent gender-based violence.

In the 2017 budget, the government promised to give $100.9 million over five years to combat gender-based violence.

There was an additional $20 million over five years for the strategy. That nearly doubled the funding by adding another $85 million over the five years, making the commitment $200 million now.

Bagnell wanted to commend the many advocacy groups which have been addressing gender-based violence in Canada and the world.

He said their efforts have raised awareness of harmful attitudes and behaviours like sexism and misogyny, while also allowing public discussion on the issue.

“This is an important step as we all work to prevent and address gender-based violence,” Bagnell said.

He explained that despite the raised awareness, sexual assault remains the most under-reported crime in the country and territory.

He added that women have said the justice system can be intimidating, difficult to navigate and not responsive. He feels society needs to listen to these concerns and push for change.

Bagnell said the Yukon is fortunate that there are dedicated and passionate groups here working on the issue like the Yukon Status of Women Council.

He called the council a formal agent for feminist change in the territory.

The MP said the $374,000 going to the Yukon Advocate Case Review will study the causes of high rates of reported sexual assaults that do not result in charges over a three-year period. He said this review fits into the government’s strategy.

“With investments like these, we can create a society where gender equality is the norm,” Bagnell said.

Charlotte Hrenchuk, the council’s co-ordinator, said she is happy to receive the money for the project. The funding will allow them to continue working on the Court Watch Project and build off of it.

The council wants to work with the RCMP, Crown prosecutors and the judiciary on how the law deals with sexual assaults. She said the sex assault rates in the Yukon are four times higher than those of southern Canada.

The case review project will allow a chance for cases that were deemed unfounded to be reviewed.

This project will also review sexual assault cases that have been before the courts that resulted in a stay of proceedings, an acquittal or a not-guilty verdict.

Hrenchuk said the goal of the project is to achieve a better understanding and find better procedures for the police, Crown and judiciary on dealing with sexual assaults.

She wants to create a safer environment for victims to come forward and see fewer cases misclassified as unfounded.

“We’re trying to create better situations for everyone involved so women feel safe,” Hrenchuk said.

She added that she wants to see more sexual assaults reported and more convictions.

Moving to the review itself, she said it will take place over three years in five communities. The first review will be in January.

The review’s co-ordinator, Aja Mason, said the project will be looking at cases in 2018, 2019 and 2020. The review will not look at cases prior to this year.

Mason estimated there would be roughly 50 cases to look at per year. She based that on the numbers from 2017, where there were 51 cases of sexual assault brought forward to the courts.

Mason said so far, only three communities have been chosen: Whitehorse, Dawson City and Watson Lake. She said the other communities will be chosen based on their findings.

Jeanie Dendys, the minister responsible for the Yukon Women’s Directorate, said this project should provide data and insight as the territory looks into issues in the system.

“I’m grateful for the attention that Canada has given to the Yukon,” Dendys said.