Anju Fujioka is a lawyer and community engagement expert with extensive experience advocating for survivors of sexual and gender based violence. She became involved in this sector at a young age, volunteering at sexual assault centres and crisis lines. As a lawyer, Anju focuses on civil litigation on behalf of victims of sexual assault and abuse.
Anju’s work is community-oriented, and she often liaises with members of law enforcement, the justice system, and community organizations to support victims. Anju is also dedicated to public legal education and advocacy. She regularly speaks at Western Law and continuing legal education events.
As an expert for the Technical Assistance Partnership (TAP) initiative, Anju works collaboratively with Gambia’s Ministry of Justice to support the newly formed Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Unit (SGBV). The Unit documents and prosecutes cases of sexual offenses involving assault, rape, and other forms of sexual abuse and exploitation, particularly against women and children. Anju will work alongside prosecutors, police officers, and judges to improve the criminal legal system’s ability to respond to crimes of sexual violence. In doing so, she strives to center the voices and needs of survivors and create a kinder, more accessible system for survivors.
Anju is a global citizen who has lived in several continents and speaks English, Japanese, and French. She applies her lived experience to represent diverse and often marginalized groups.
Based in Ontario, Canada, Anju holds a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the University of Western Ontario and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Psychology from McGill University.