Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
Good afternoon, everyone.
Colleagues, it's good to see you again after the summer break.
It's always chilling information. The news is also catching up to us when it comes to violence against women. I took personal notes on the subject. In the last 10 years, violent crime has gone up; sexual assault has gone up; murders have gone up; violent gun crime has gone up. In addition, the number of murders linked to street gangs has exploded. We live in a world where violence is absolutely extraordinary, in the sense that it is beyond comprehension.
Ms. Rioux, since the committee began this study, I find myself somewhat stunned by examples we hear of women—it quite often concerns women—who are victims of violence. Even when they have evidence, videos and witnesses, at the end of the day, they are the ones who bear the blame and are accused of being responsible for these situations.
You mentioned that the courts of appeal are rejecting appeals from lower courts. There is an ignorance or lack of recognition of what is happening in women's lives. We don't understand the problems. Ultimately, women are simply not believed.
How do you explain that? Which of the legislative changes you mentioned should be put forward?