Aura Freedom stands in unwavering solidarity with E.M. and all survivors of sexual violence. What has become known as the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial has once again exposed how deeply rape myths, bias, and systemic failures remain entrenched in our legal system.
E.M.’s personal courage in the face of ongoing systemic violence, and the solidarity shown by communities across Canada stand as powerful reminders that advocacy matters. Aura Freedom will continue to fight for a future where survivors can speak their truth and seek justice without fear of being silenced, or retraumatized – whether at the hands of legal systems or the broader cultures of violence that continue to perpetuate harm.
Both the Hockey Canada decision and the Diddy case are potent reminders that:
- Powerful men most often come out on top, as well as the powerful structures they control (professional sports, Hollywood, big corporations, etc.). This is not an accident. It is both the patriarchy and capitalism working exactly the way they are meant to. It is by design.
- Deep and nuanced education on Coercive Control and Consent is crucial for judges overseeing cases of men’s violence against women.
- Survivors need alternative avenues to justice and healing.
Support for E.M.
As part of the collective efforts led by Anova in London and supported across Ontario, we wrote a letter of support for E.M. that will be included in a book of messages sent to her. We want her to know that her courage in the face of trauma and re-traumatization is deeply felt and recognized by those standing beside her. This act of solidarity is not only about one trial – it is about challenging a justice system that continues to retraumatize survivors, reinforcing rape myths and harmful misconceptions, and making sexual assault trials harder to navigate.
By joining our voices with those of other advocates, we send a clear message: survivors should not bear the burden of seeking justice alone. We believe them, we support them, and we will continue to fight for legal processes that are trauma-informed, survivor-centred, and free from the bias and discrimination that have, for too long, denied survivors the justice they deserve.
Calling for an appeal
Aura Freedom additionally sent an appeal letter to the Ministry of the Attorney General, calling for the R v. McLeod et al. verdict to be reviewed by the Ontario Court of Appeal. In the letter, we state that Justice Carroccia’s judgment reinforces rape myths, disregards well-established evidence on the neurobiology of trauma, and ultimately fails to demonstrate understanding of the complexities of consent law. We thank Anova again for their ongoing leadership in supporting organizations to send these letters.
We know that decisions like this alienate survivors, perpetuate harmful misconceptions, and make sexual assault trials further inaccessible – especially for those already facing systemic barriers to justice. We have seen in this decision, and in the court proceedings, the re-traumatization by the legal system, not only for E.M., but for all survivors who have been following the case, and all those who will bring their own experiences to the courts going forward.
A media analysis
Using our Guidelines on GBV In The Media and our Journalist’s Scorecard – free tools from Aura Freedom’s GBV In The Media initiative – we analyzed media coverage on the Hockey Canada sexual assault case. 20+ stories were examined, compared, and scored.
We applaud the journalists who are digging deeper, seeking alternative voices beyond the criminal justice system (which are inherently not ‘neutral’) and have the courage to refrain from victim blaming and sensationalizing, even if those are the headlines that get the clicks.
Click here for an analysis of both harmful and transformative articles on the case, based on our tools and our four main themes of Voices, Language, Frameworks and Impacts.
