St. John’s city council has unanimously pledged its support for more action to address the impacts of violence against women and girls.

A resolution by Deputy Mayor Sheilagh O’Leary calls on council to write to the leaders of the three major political parties to jointly address gaps in the justice system. For example, training on the impacts of sexual violence is mandatory for Supreme Court justices but not provincial court judges.

Councillor Maggie Burton says she can certainly relate to what victims are up against.

She says as a survivor of sexual assault herself, she’s always available to lend an ear of support to anyone who might need to reach out.

Other issues addressed in the resolution include the fact that an intimate relationship must exist before the matter can be dealt with in the domestic violence court. That means any cases of date rape or assaults by strangers can’t be heard in that setting.

There’s also an emphasis on discussing the issue of consent with youth at an earlier age.

The resolution coincides with the November 25 International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and related 16 days of activism.