Sexual violence and intimate partner violence takes an enormous toll on survivors, families and communities, yet these forms of violence are vastly underreported. Many past inquiries, inquests and other processes (such as the National Inquiry on MMIWG and the Mass Casualty Commission) have made recommendations to address this reality, but the challenges persist.

This independent, systemic review will build on what survivors and other experts have already said about existing barriers and what to do about them. It will employ an intersectional lens to investigate the interplay of legal structures, including criminal, family and Indigenous law, to identify obstacles to implementing past recommendations. The independent review will seek pragmatic, actionable solutions to chart a path toward accountability and systemic change for survivors, families and communities.