KEY ISSUES
IMPACTING WOMEN

Despite being active for over 45 years, YSWC’s work is growing in importance. While the #MeToo movement has resulted in increased rates of reporting of sexualized violence in all of Canada's provinces, the territories have not observed this trend - a reflection, in part, of a lack of confidence in Yukon's legal system on behalf of victims. Recent economic projections indicate that Yukon is on the cusp of another economic boom, enabled largely by the activity of mining and exploration.

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Evidence from other jurisdictions clearly indicates a strong link between mining booms and highly negative social impacts on women - especially women who are already vulnerable such as sex trade workers and those in domestically violent relationships. 

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Moreover, Yukon's housing crisis is reaching critical levels by virtue of insufficient affordable housing. With an inevitable influx of transient workers into Yukon's capital and communities via the booming mining industry, competition for an already scarce resource (housing) increases.

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Consequently, the pressure to engage in "survival sex" increases as basic needs such as access to affordable housing diminishes. Furthermore, women looking to leave domestically abusive situations have fewer liberties to do so. 

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There is urgency in addressing these interconnected issues. We remain committed to working with our networks locally, territorially and nationally to address the rooted issues underpinning gender inequity.