First, Mr. Lauzon, I'm familiar with the child advocacy centre in your area in Cornwall, and it's one of the best, as I've said to you previously. We now have 20 operating in the country or in the process of being fully operational. It has been, in my view, again for emphasis, one of the most important innovations that we've seen in decades in the criminal justice system.
It's important to keep in mind, as I'm sure members of this committee are aware, that this is one area where crime rates are not falling. Child sexual abuse and offences against children are actually on the rise in Canada, so the need for these child advocacy centres and the need for further efforts and legislation in that regard cannot be overstated.
As far as participation goes, this bill is very much about requiring, as I said earlier, all actors within the system, including judges, to recognize the important role of victims and the right of victims to have not only the information but the ability to access services like victim services and child advocacy centres, and the ability to enhance their participation through important appearances on sentencing with victim impact statements.
I remember practising law when, much like Mr. Dechert said earlier, victims were treated like a regular witness. They were to give their testimony and go home. Now, through the introduction of victim impact statements, through their participation, and their greater support through the wonderful work that's done by victims services across the country, their participation is more meaningful, more impactful, and I think more satisfactory to them at the end, if you can say that about having to go through the system through no fault of your own.
Adding acknowledgement to the harm that has been done to them and having greater affirmation of their importance in the system is all part of what this bill is aimed to accomplish. I mentioned something that should never been seen as trivial: to be able to bring to court a photograph of your loved one and to be able to express personally how this crime impacted you and those around you is significant. Courts and our entire justice system have to recognize and embrace that change.
That's what this bill I hope will accomplish. It will entrench that type of culture shift towards victims, embracing and putting them very much front and centre when it comes to their rights. I really do believe that we have, through a very non-partisan and inclusive process, moved the criminal justice system a long way.
If I might, Mr. Chair, I want to acknowledge Carole and Pam, as you did at the outset. These two women have done extraordinary work in the last number of years to bring this bill to fruition. It couldn't have happened without both of them.