Manitoba Government News Release–The Manitoba government has proclaimed Clare’s Law, the Disclosure to Protect Against Intimate Partner Violence Act, effective March 1, giving Manitobans a way to access an intimate partner’s documented history of violence, Justice Minister Matt Wiebe and Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine, minister responsible for women and gender equity, announced today.
“Clare’s Law is critical in Manitoba, where we have the second highest rate of intimate partner violence and family violence across Canadian provinces,” said Fontaine. “This made-in-Manitoba approach centres survivors, connecting people to information but also to community-based and trauma-informed supports and services to protect and empower Manitoban families.”
Clare’s Law is named after Clare Wood, who was murdered by her former partner in England in 2009. Her family campaigned to create a legal process that allows police to warn potential victims of intimate partner violence, or their families, about a partner’s documented history of violence.
Versions of Clare’s Law have been adopted in the United Kingdom and in some Canadian provinces. Manitoba is the first Canadian jurisdiction to broaden the disclosure protocol to include family and sexual violence, the ministers noted, adding it is also the first jurisdiction in the world to include connections to public or community-based supports as a stated goal in the legislation.
“Manitoba’s unique approach to Clare’s Law will make a difference in keeping Manitobans and their families safe, combining access to crucial information, safety planning and community-based supports,” said Wiebe. “This legislation outlines a disclose-and-support approach that enables people at risk of intimate partner violence to access information about their partner’s documented history of violence and find the support they need to feel safe and protected.”
The Manitoba government has collaborated with Indigenous organizations, community partners and law enforcement to design a provincial disclosure protocol. Manitoba Justice’s Family Resolution Service and Women and Gender Equity Manitoba are leading the development of the Clare’s Law Program. Community organizations, including shelters, staff and law enforcement officers will receive training to help people apply for the program and navigate their safety concerns.
The Family Resolution Service will deliver the program at 2-379 Broadway in Winnipeg and virtually, with plans to expand to satellite locations across the province, the ministers added.
The program can be contacted at ClaresLaw@gov.mb.ca or at 431-335-1959.
Applications for Clare’s Law are available at https://gov.mb.ca/familylaw/safety/clares-law.html.