Canada and UK advance victim protection laws

In Canada, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights adopted an amendment to Bill C‑16 on May 4, 2026. The amendment requires a parliamentary review five years after the bill receives royal assent to consider extending criminal liability for coercive or controlling conduct beyond intimate‑partner relationships, reflecting growing legal recognition of such behaviour as a serious form of family violence.

In the United Kingdom, the Victims and Courts Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026. The Act expands the scope of “permitted disclosures” for victims of crime, allowing them to speak publicly about alleged criminal conduct regardless of any non‑disclosure agreement, and gives the Secretary of State power to set conditions for “excepted agreements.” The changes aim to prevent NDAs from silencing victims and to strengthen overall victim rights.

Both reforms signal a broader move in North‑America and Europe to enhance legal protections for victims of abuse and crime.