Today marks the 26th International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls. We’d like to recognize, however, that violence against women and girls has been a reality for much longer than 26 years. That being said, today is a day of resistance against gendered oppression, of education about systemic inequity, and of action to eliminate violence. It’s also a day to acknowledge women’s and girls’ strengths and movement towards positive change.
SOME FACTS
You’ll likely hear many statistics about violence against women and girls today. For instance, approximately 1 in 3 women experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, most often by an intimate partner.1
In Canada, sexual assault, a crime experienced mostly by women (92% of police reported incidents2), is the only violent crime that is not significantly declining.2,3 Furthermore, Women and Gender Equality Canada (formerly the Status of Women Canada)4 reports that “Indigenous women experience violence at a rate 2.7 times higher than that reported by non-Indigenous women,” which is a direct consequence of systemic inequities and historical and ongoing colonization in Canada.
These are not the only statistics. We could continue informing you of the state of violence against women and girls in Canada and the world, but what we want to focus on today is strength in spite of inequity.
STRENGTH
We believe that women and girls are experts in their own lives and everyday experiences. This expertise must be the starting point of any intervention that aims to enhance their lives and communities.
For instance, in our community-based research project, STRENGTH (Sisters Together Reaching Every New Goal Towards Healing), we are building on the capacity of current services to learn if and how integrating a trauma and violence informed approach to outreach services facilitates women’s connections and improves services. Ultimately, we are learning how to work together with women who have experienced or are experiencing structural and interpersonal violence to further the safe access to services and relationships with practitioners.
Our STRENGTH community organization partners are prime examples of movements towards positive change.
INNER-CITY WOMEN’S INITIATIVES SOCIETY
This non-profit society strives to address the social and medical issues raised due to socio-economic deprivation for women living in the Downtown Eastside in Vancouver. They facilitate the Downtown Auxiliary Mobile Service (DAMS), a harm reduction, case management program for vulnerable women with an outreach model of care. DAMS also provides a drop-in, meal program for women living in the Downtown Eastside.
If you are interested and want to be a part of this movement they are always looking for more volunteers or support, so check them out here.
WEST COAST LEAF
West Coast LEAF Association is the only non-profit in British Columbia to operate by using law as a strategy to create a just society for all women and people who experience gender-based discrimination. Their aim is to improve access to justice, access to health care, economic security, freedom from gender-based violence, justice for those who are criminalized, and the right to parent. They do this through law reform, litigation, and public legal education efforts informed by and in collaboration with communities marginalized on the basis of gender.
If you are interested and want to be a part of this movement, they are always looking for more individuals who would like to volunteer, donate or even find a career.
RISE WOMEN’S LEGAL CENTRE
Rise Women’s Legal Centre is a community legal centre providing accessible legal services that are responsive to the unique needs of self-identifying women. Rise offers unbundled family law services to women caught in the gap between being ineligible for legal aid yet unable to afford private legal representation. Most services offered at Rise are provided by upper-year law students from the Allard School of Law, user the supervision of qualified lawyers. We also offer legal support to family law advocates, transition house workers, and settlement workers who assist clients with family law.
If you are interested and want to be a part of this movement they are always looking for more individuals who would like to volunteer or donate.
TAKE ACTION
Now that you’ve read about the state of inequity and what some organizations are doing to promote strength, what can you do to contribute to positive change?
- Become a monthly donor
Organizations need support to continue their essential work. One-time donations are always appreciated, but by becoming a monthly donor, you help them plan for and continue their work into the future. - Listen
Women and girls’ voices deserve to be heard and it’s up to all of us to listen and privilege their expertise and experiences within any intervention. - Educate yourself
We don’t know what we don’t know, but it’s our responsibility to educate ourselves about violence against women and girls. The organizations above are a good starting point. - Go out of your way to support
Supporting women and girls is an everyday responsibility. Seek out opportunities—instead of waiting for them to present themselves—to raise awareness, amplify their voices, and contribute to movements for change.
REFERENCES
2 https://www.canadianwomen.org/the-facts/sexual-assault-harassment/
3 https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/85-002-x/2015001/article/14241-eng.htm
4 https://cfc-swc.gc.ca/violence/knowledge-connaissance/about-apropos-en.html
