Our actions
The Montreal Sexual Assault Centre takes part in various activities in the community, primarily by sharing its expertise with committees, associations, concerted actions and forums.
Table de concertation sur les agressions à caractère sexuel de Montréal
Created in 1977, the TCACSM is an association of regional organizations dedicated to promoting the cause of sexual assault victims. The MSAC became a member in 1983, and its director has served as president of the association since 2008.
The general objectives of the TCACSM are as follows:
- Promote and foster respect for the rights of sexual assault victims
- Promote the existence and consolidation of high-quality services
- Foster the exchange of information and cooperation among resources and the distribution of this information to all organizations concerned
- Act as consultants, resource persons and experts on crimes of a sexual nature, and voice opinions and recommendations
- Promote the maintenance and development of prevention programs
- Encourage training of members and other caregivers/practitioners
As of 2001, the Table has been sharing its members’ knowledge and wide-ranging expertise on sexual assault by publishing several documents on the subject:
- A multilingual pamphlet in French / English, French / Spanish and French / Arabic, and various resources were made available to victims of sexual assault in Montreal.
- The Information Guide for Sexual Assault Victims, available in French, English and Spanish was launched in 2007. Distributed throughout Quebec, this invaluable guide is a comprehensive, accessible resource now in its third edition.
- Since 2014, the website agressionsexuellemontreal.ca has provided information on resources for sexual assault victims in Montreal for caregivers and practitioners in various milieus.
Designated Centres Committee
The Montreal Designated Centres Committee is a sub-committee of the Table de concertation sur les agressions à caractère sexuel de Montréal. Created in 1992, it is made up of representatives of each of Montreal’s designated centres and the Laboratoire de sciences judiciaires et de médecine légale (Montreal forensic sciences laboratory).
This committee has had several mandates over the years. While some were more local and regional, others were province-wide: conceptualizing a network of designated centres in Quebec, updating the tools used in medical-social services for sexual assault victims and training for medical-social teams working in the designated centres.
The Director of the MSAC is the spokesperson for the Montreal designated centres committee.
Comité de Vérification et d'Observation Intersectoriel des Enquêtes en matière dagression sexuelle (VOIE)
The VOIE committee is made up of representatives of various organizations involved in the field of sexual violence.
In addition to reviewing whether the processing of cases has been optimal in terms of the police investigation, the VOIE committee aims to formulate recommendations with regard to best practices to be developed in the handling of these cases. The director of the MSAC has participated in the committee since its creation in December 2017.
Comité violence envers les femmes dans le logement
The committee was born in 2015 from a consultation day about violence experienced by women tenants organized by the Centre d’éducation et d'action des femmes.
The coordinator of the Provincial Helpline for Victims of Sexual Assault sits on this committee with various organizations such as the CALACS of West Island, the Fédération des maisons d’hébergement pour femmes, the FRAPRU and the RQOH
Coalition québécoise contre la traite des personnes
This coalition brings together public, parapublic, community and non-governmental organizations that work with people who are victims or at risk in order to prevent human trafficking, protect victims and ensure that adequate services and support are offered.
The contribution of the MSAC has been ensured since 2016 by the participation of the coordinator of the provincial resource line for victims of sexual assault.
