Individual Advocacy
Through individual advocacy Justice for Girls promotes the health, equality and dignity of teenage girls and young women who are living in poverty.
Leading the Work: Sue Brown
Our advocacy is led by Sue Brown, a human rights advocate and practicing lawyer called to the law societies of British Columbia, Ontario and the Yukon.
Sue’s commitment to human rights, equality and justice has been the common thread throughout all of her work as a prisoner’s advocate and anti-violence advocate, working with survivors of violence and human rights violations for over 15 years.
Individual Advocacy for Girls
Teenage girls experiencing violence or other human rights violations often face complex systems that are not designed with their unique needs in mind. At Justice for Girls, we know that when girls try to access help—from child welfare to education, health care, or the legal system—they are too often dismissed, misunderstood, or retraumatized.
Teen girls are not just “young women” or “children”—they are a distinct group with their own realities and rights. Navigating violence, poverty, homelessness, and institutional harm at this stage of life requires specialized, trauma-informed support. That’s why Justice for Girls offers individual advocacy services tailored specifically for teenage girls aged 12–18 across British Columbia.
With funding from the Law Foundation of BC, our individual advocacy program provides rights-based, girl-centered support to teens experiencing any form of violence, harm, or discrimination. We work with girls in-person, over the phone, and virtually—meeting them wherever they are, and however they feel safest.
What We Do
Our advocates walk alongside girls as they navigate multiple systems, providing direct, hands-on support in ways that respect their agency, needs, and choices. We work to ensure that girls are heard, supported, and treated with dignity—not just as clients or cases, but as rights-holders.
Our advocacy support includes (but is not limited to):
Court and hospital accompaniments – supporting girls through traumatic or intimidating legal and medical settings
Police reporting – helping girls safely report violence and navigate police systems that are often hostile or dismissive
Accessing legal representation – ensuring girls have legal support, especially in complex or high-stakes cases
Finding safe housing – assisting girls in securing stable, appropriate housing, including shelters and long-term options
Attending meetings with MCFD – supporting girls through traumatic or intimidating legal and medical settings
Youth agreements – helping girls safely report violence and navigate police systems that are often hostile or dismissive
Accessing treatment and supports – connecting girls to mental health care, addictions treatment, and other necessary services
School advocacy – attending school meetings to uphold girls’ right to education and ensure they are not punished for trauma-related struggles
Why This Work Matters
Most teenage girls do not have advocates in their corner. They are often left to navigate adult-centric, bureaucratic, and punitive systems on their own—especially if they are homeless, Indigenous, racialized, or living in poverty. Without tailored support, girls fall through the cracks, face further harm, or are silenced altogether.
Justice for Girls’ individual advocacy model is grounded in feminist, anti-oppressive, and trauma-informed principles. We don’t just help girls “cope”—we challenge the systems that harm them, amplify their voices, and fight for real solutions.
We believe every girl has the right to be safe, heard, and supported. Through individual advocacy, we make that right a reality—one girl at a time.
How you can help
Your support empowers teenage girls to stand up against injustice, access their rights, and build safer, brighter futures.
Join the movement
Volunteer, host a workshop, or support our advocacy—take action and help create justice for girls.
Donate to JFG
Support our work to educate, empower, and protect teenage girls facing violence, poverty, and injustice.