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“It’s very unfortunate for her in that respect because we need to be able to respect when people haven’t been able, willing (or) wanting to talk about it,” Aubry said.

(CNW PHOTO

“I feel bad for her because she didn’t bring this up. Maybe she did 18 years ago, but if it wasn’t our PM … this wouldn’t be getting any air time because sexual violence has happened for years on end and it’s not covered.

“I can’t speak to what he should or shouldn’t have said, but … society has been accepting of certain kinds of behaviours,” she said.

She also said those behaviours need to stop and, much like Trudeau said on Friday, Aubry noted every Canadian has a role to play is ending sexual harassment and abuse.

“So we have to make a choice as a society. Are we going to continue to just accept that or … we going to start having these conversations?”

As for Trudeau’s comments on the differing perceived experiences between men and women, Aubry says the prime minister touched on a very real aspect of sexual assault which shouldn’t be discounted.

“Have women experienced these kinds of experiences differently than men? Oh yes they have,” Aubry said. “And not just women. The ones that are being victimized, they do experience it differently.”

Aubry said contacting victims of assault about their past trauma or telling their story without their consent has a very real danger of forcing the survivor to relive the event before they are ready to come forward.

She says victims “have remained silent for many years for lots of different and, typically, very good reasons.”