Nova Scotia justice officials agree more victim support needed

Justice officials in rural Nova Scotia acknowledge human trafficking victims need more support.

That comes after a mother told her daughter's tragic story of falling into the grips of forced prostitution. 
The young woman spent three years being trafficked and tortured by different pimps in Nova Scotia, Ontario and Alberta. 

When she died suddenly in a car crash last summer, evidence on her cellphone revealed the extent of her suffering and the mother now wants to know why the justice system continues to fail victims of violence.

More focus required

Emma Halpern, equity officer for the Nova Scotia Barristers' Society agreed there isn't enough focus on how to help human trafficking victims.

"They're on the outside, particularly in the criminal justice system," she said. 

The Equity Office was created as part of the society to improve the justice system by tackling issues related to inequality and discrimination. Halpern recently spoke at an event that brought together survivors of violence and justice professionals. 

"They're seen as extras in some ways or outside the traditional realms of what is the core of the criminal justice system, so I think that the lack of voice that survivors have or feel they have, frequently in the system is something that needs to be addressed."

Halpern said there also isn't enough protection in place to help witnesses feel safe.

"These are things that we need to think about, we need to talk about, we need to do better," she said.

Behind the bench

To date, there hasn't been a human trafficking conviction in Nova Scotia. 

Judge Paul Scovil in Bridgewater said he hasn't dealt with a human trafficking case in his provincial courtroom yet; however, he expects cases to begin trickling through rural areas of the province.

"Obviously it's a newer charge in the Criminal Code. It'll probably be utilized more frequently as time goes on, and it wouldn't surprise me if it doesn't come through our courts in my area and other rural areas in the relatively near future," he said.

While it's difficult to meet the needs of everyone filtering through the courts, he said it's necessary to try.

"These are very difficult cases that obviously have a varied and difficult impact on anyone involved in the process, all the way up from people who are defence counsel, prosecutors, and ultimately judges as well when we hear them," said Scovil.

Bridging the gap

Ingrid Brodie, chief Crown attorney for western Nova Scotia, says the few programs in place are working.

"Some are centred more in metropolitan areas, programs from transition homes, to Second Story, to Avalon Centre," she said.

"There is safety in a structured not-for-profit community based program that creates a safe haven at least to begin the journey of whether or not to first, break free, and second, to make a full disclosure to an investigating agency."

Bridging the gap between front-line support and the justice system can be difficult, said Brodie.

"It's very challenging to find the balance between human supports, the psychological human safety supports that a victim would need, and the supports that are needed to move through what is a lengthy, complex, and for victims, often frustrating criminal justice system," she said.