Several sexual assault survivors and their allies took to the sidewalk out front of the Kelowna RCMP detachment on Saturday to voice their concerns surrounding Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 high number of unfounded sexual assault reports.

As first reported in the 91裸聊视频 on Oct. 25, Statistics Canada data shows the Kelowna RCMP classified almost 40 per cent of sexual assault reports as unfounded in 2018. That number is more than double the 15 per cent average across the province and dwarfs the under five per cent averages in Vancouver and Victoria.

The protest, organized by two local rape survivors who had their reports deemed as such, Heather Friesen and Aden Withers, called for better officers, training and an external investigation of the Kelowna RCMP. Currently, the RCMP91裸聊视频檚 Sexual Assault Review Team is in the midst of reviewing the numbers.

91裸聊视频淭he RCMP can not investigate itself,91裸聊视频� said Friesen.

READ MORE: Protest planned against Kelowna RCMP91裸聊视频檚 high unfounded sexual assault numbers

READ MORE: Kelowna mayor apologizes for initial reaction to sexual assault statistics

Donning signs reading, 91裸聊视频渞ape culture lives here91裸聊视频� and 91裸聊视频淩CMP serves and protects rapists,91裸聊视频� among several others, the protesters chanted at Kelowna RCMP building. 91裸聊视频淲e represent the 40 per cent, we represent the 40 per cent!91裸聊视频� the group of around 25 shouted towards the detachment.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e here protesting the rape culture within the Kelowna RCMP,91裸聊视频� said Friesen, who was allegedly gang-raped when she was 15.

91裸聊视频淚 have had multiple women come up to me and tell me that the RCMP aren91裸聊视频檛 even willing to take their statements. The 40 per cent unfounded isn91裸聊视频檛 a true representation of what91裸聊视频檚 going on. So, I don91裸聊视频檛 believe 40 per cent is true 91裸聊视频� I believe it91裸聊视频檚 higher.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e not here about me being raped; we91裸聊视频檙e not here about any of these women being raped. We91裸聊视频檙e here about the RCMP not doing their jobs.91裸聊视频�

Withers came to the protest with a red handprint painted on her face, representing missing and murdered indigenous women, a group which she said is heavily intertwined with and targeted by rape culture.

91裸聊视频淚 was targeted because I was part of the Aboriginal ministry,91裸聊视频� she said.

91裸聊视频淏eing targeted even with the white-passing privilege that I have opened my eyes to how Indigenous people of Canada are truly treated and it91裸聊视频檚 disgusting.91裸聊视频�

During the rally, Withers spoke of her experience reporting to RCMP, citing the brutal and victimizing questioning she endured, in which she was asked if she was 91裸聊视频渢urned on91裸聊视频� while she was raped.

Friesen, who has been very vocal since the numbers were released, taking on the RCMP and even the mayor, said she holds no shame regarding what happened to her.

91裸聊视频淢y rapists hold all the shame, my friends hold all the shame, the RCMP hold all the shame,91裸聊视频� she said.

In a Nov. 8 statement, the Kelowna RCMP said it could not provide an explanation as to why so many cases were deemed unfounded.

91裸聊视频淲e understand that there are many questions about the roots of these statistics, and we91裸聊视频檙e taking immediate steps to get answers,91裸聊视频� said Cpl. Meghan Foster.

91裸聊视频淭he BC RCMP has conducted a preliminary review of these files, but we are currently not in a position to provide specific examples of why any of these investigations were deemed unfounded. For every investigation, there are many variables 91裸聊视频� each investigation is different and we do not want to deter any other survivors from bravely coming forward to report a sexual assault.91裸聊视频�

The RCMP has not given a timeline as to when the Sexual Assault Review Team91裸聊视频檚 investigation will be completed.

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