Whereas sexual assault evidence collection SAEC kits are currently funded through the Ministry of Health, with SAEC kits considered evidence that is from a committed crime; And whereas survivors of sexual assault need medical forensic examinations readily available on demand and should not be expected to travel further than 50km to facilitate equitable access to justice and associated resources: Therefore be it resolved that the provincial government fund comprehensive, 247 access to services and staffing needed sexual assault nurse examiners and to provide SAEC kits in communities lacking in forensic services.
Ministry of Health All patients across BC who are in need have access to Sexual Assault Forensic Evaluation SAFE services. These services are highly sensitive and require appropriately trained health professionals to administer and to ensure that the patients needs and legal requirements to meet court standards of admissibility are met. SAFE should only be performed by specially trained medical professionals. Specialized SAFE training provides examiners with instruction on how to perform SAFE in a patient-centred manner, properly prepare and store evidence, and provide expert testimony in criminal proceedings. Providing a patient with a SAFE examination may routinely take one or more hours to complete. Maintaining competencies related to SAFE requires regularly performing SAFE examinations; some areas of the province experience requests for SAFE at a volume lower than required to maintain examiner competency as well as the required equipment and physical space. Because SAFE services e.g. collection of biological samples, relevant patient history, andor documentation of injuries are highly specialized and should only be performed by specially trained medical professionals, it is not available at every individual hospital in the province. However, SAFE services can be accessed by any patient presenting at any hospital. Either transportation will be coordinated by the hospital to the nearest community that offers SAFE or a travelling team will travel to the patient. Additionally, the Emergency Services Advisory Committee is working to standardize protocols and training, to be implemented at all hospitals across the province, to ensure that victims of sexual assault can receive immediate supports and medication regardless of where they present, while the SAFE trained medical professionals at the nearest hospital are contacted.