This report is based on the meeting hosted by Employment and Social Development Canada and the Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children that took place in Ottawa, Ontario on March 30th, 2017. The purpose of the meeting was to explore the intersections between immigrant and refugee women fleeing violence and experiencing homelessness, health/mental health and disability issues, and trauma in Canada. Participants at the meeting were invited to share knowledge on this topic, including barriers faced by immigrant and refugee women to accessing supports and services, leaving abusive relationships, and obtaining safe, secure, and affordable housing. This was followed by a discussion on gaps in policy, knowledge, and service delivery, practical measures and promising approaches, and next steps for consideration. As this was an exploratory meeting, future opportunities for further discussion are needed to address the many complexities and nuances involved in the intersections of immigrant and refugee women fleeing violence and experiencing homelessness, health/mental health and disability issues, and trauma.
Emerging research from across Canada points to a significant relationship between immigrant and refugee women fleeing violence and experiences of homelessness (BC Society of Transition Houses, 2015; Holtmann, 2016; Thurston et al. 2006). Overall estimates of violence have not been found to be higher in immigrant and refugee communities, however, their position as immigrants and refugees contributes both to their vulnerability and to barriers faced when accessing services and supports. A dynamic interplay of structural and interpersonal factors contributes to violence and increases the risk of homelessness for this group. This includes sponsorship relationships, pre-migration experiences, migration journeys, acculturation and settlement stressors, economic insecurity, cultural norms and traditions, and unfamiliarity with Canadian laws and regulations (Canadian Council on Social Development, 2006).
Most child homicides in Canada are perpetrated by parents. Fathers are responsible for the homicide in approximately 60% of the cases.
Research suggests that living with domestic violence (DV) is a significant risk factor for child lethality. Furthermore, in reported cases of domestic homicide, approximately 10-22% involved child victims.
The Ontario Domestic Violence Death Review Committee (DVDRC) reported 323 homicide/homicide-suicide cases with domestic violence involvement between 2002 and 2014. These cases resulted in 453 deaths. Of the homicide victims, 10% were children killed in the context of DV. Approximately 8 out of 10 of these child domestic homicides were perpetrated by fathers. While evidence suggests children are at an increased risk of homicide when living with DV, it is sometimes difficult to determine whether a death of a child occurred as a result of DV. Confirmed cases suggest three principal situations where children are killed in the context of DV: (1) during an attempt to protect their parent from violence; (2) as an act of revenge against one’s partner (e.g., partner ended relationship); and (3) in a murder-suicide by a parent who decides to kill the whole family.
Evaluating violence against women (VAW) training is essential to moving the field forward with proven approaches that can improve service provision for survivors of violence. Given existing resource constraints involved in VAW work, online training represents an economical and flexible option; however, existing evaluations of online programs in the VAW field are scant and face a variety of limitations. This study aimed to fill this gap by using a pre-/posttest design, comparison group, and mixed-method analysis to assess the effectiveness and value of an online training program. The program was intended to provide foundational knowledge in feminist antiviolence principles and values to a range of individuals working with survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). Program participants (N = 108) included volunteers, students, and professionals from various sectors, allowing for the application of the results to a broader field of VAW support services. This is important as individuals who work with IPV survivors may do so in a range of settings outside of the shelter context. Results demonstrate the potential for online VAW training to improve participants’ knowledge of and attitudes about VAW, which can positively inform their work with survivors. Qualitative responses provide further insight into course impact and highlight positive and negative aspects of the course. Although preliminary, these results provide justification for continued development and evaluation of online VAW training programs.
Violence against Indigenous women has been tearing apart the lives of women, their families and communities for generations. It is a legacy of colonialism that continues to exacerbate poverty, social isolation and insecurity. With this strategy, Ontario and Indigenous communities are coming together to end the cycle of violence and ensure future generations of Indigenous women can live the way they deserve — with safety and respect.
1. Supporting Children, Youth and Families
New funding: $80 million over three years.
• Introduce a new Family Well-Being Program to support Indigenous families in crisis and help communities deal with the effects of intergenerational violence and trauma.
2. Community Safety and Healing
New funding: $15.75 million over three years.
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Ensure Indigenous women and communities have effective supports when dealing with the justice system.
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Develop a survivor-centred strategy to assist in the identi cation, intervention and prevention of human traf cking in Ontario.
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Expand a counselling helpline for Indigenous women experiencing violence, building on the Talk4Healing Indigenous Women’s Helpline.
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Support Indigenous men with healing and violence prevention programs, including Kizhaay Anishinaabe Niin (I am a Kind Man).
For many young women and girls in Canada, their opportunity to participate equally in Canadian society and their right to lead successful and fulfilling lives may be disrupted by acts of gender-based violence. Acknowledging the serious impact of such violence on young women and girls, the House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women (“the Committee”) agreed on 8 March 2016, to conduct a study on violence against young women and girls in Canada. The Committee adopted the following motion:
That the Committee study violence in the lives of young women and girls, with particular attention to (but not limited to):
- The nature and extent of cyberviolence against young girls and women and best practices to address and prevent it;
- The nature and extent of street harassment and disrespectful public behaviour and best practices to address and prevent it;
- Explore issues faced by young women on campus, and how to build a more consistent application of effective strategies by universities and colleges to address violence against young women on campus, including the notion of “rape culture” and definitions and perceptions of consent;
- Explore the impacts of hypersexualization of young women and girls in the traditional and social media and how to engage relevant sectors in countering such practices;
- Explore best practices for engaging men and boys to be part of the solution on these issues;
- Include in the examination of the above those groups in our society who are at particular risk, such as the LGBTQ2 [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and 2-Spirited] community, newcomer and immigrant young women and girls;
La Fondation du droit de l'Ontario a récemment lancé le rapport intitulé Une aide de confiance, qui jette un éclairage nouveau sur la facon dont les intermédiaires de confiance facilitent l'accès à la justice. Ce rapport, commandé par la Fondation du droit de l'Ontario, a été préparé par les cinq membres de notre équipe de recherche indépendante. Il comporte de l'information nouvelle sur les moyens par lesquels les intermédiaires de confiance aident les gens à accéder à la justice et sur les moyens d'oeuvrer avec ces intermédiaires, de les soutenir et de s'associer à eux pour mieux aider les gens à trouver des solutions à leurs problèmes juridiques.
Grâce au soutien et à la participation d'un très grand nombre de personnes, dont vous, nous comprenons mieux le role que jouent les intermédiaires de confiance et ce qu'il faut faire pour le renforcer.
Le rapport Une aide de confiance établit le role capital des intermédiaires de confiance en faveur de l'accès à la justice. Bien qu'ils n'offrent pas de conseils juridiques et ne représentent pas la clientèle devant les tribunaux, ces aides (ou premiers intervenants et premières intervenantes) sont accessibles et servent d'intermédiaires de confiance entre la clientèle et un système de justice complexe dans lequel de nombreuses personnes, surtout les personnes sans défense, trouvent difficile de s'y retrouver. Les intermédiaires de confiance oeuvrent dans de nombreux domaines, dont les services d'établissement, les refuges, la lutte contre les violences faites aux femmes, les loisirs et le soutien aux gens qui ont des besoins juridiques très divers.
Le sondage effectué dans le cadre de ce travail de recherche a eu un bon taux de réponse. Nous avons recu au total 403 sondages remplis, dont 231 provenaient de premiers intervenants et premières intervenantes. Selon ce sondage, parmi ces premières intervenantes et premiers intervenants :
- 82 % ont aidé les gens à cerner leur problème juridique;
- 88 % ont offert de l'information juridique de base sur les droits et les procédures;
- 93 % ont recommandé des gens à des fournisseurs de services juridiques;
- 63 % ont aidé les gens à remplir des formulaires et autres documents judiciaires;
- 70 % ont aidé les gens à prendre des mesures pour résoudre un problème juridique.
La Fondation, qui a l'habitude de donner suite aux travaux de recherche qu'elle commande, s'est engagée à établir le dialogue avec les bénéficiaires de nos subventions, les intervenant(e)s et les penseurs et penseuses influents pour discuter de ce rapport et des prochaines étapes. Vous pouvez vous abonner à notre bulletin d'information pour recevoir des mises à jour et de l'information sur la suite des choses.
Nous vous remercions de votre participation et de votre soutien à ce travail de recherche. Comme nous l'avons exprimé dans le rapport, nous sommes reconnaissants de l'engagement actif et de la participation sincère des nombreuses personnes qui nous ont communiqué leur expérience, leurs idées et leur savoir spécialisé dans le cadre d'entretiens, de groupes de discussion et de sondages, et dans le développement d'études de cas. Cette participation a grandement enrichi le présent rapport.
L'équipe de recherche du rapport Une aide de confiance :
Karen Cohl
Julie Lassonde
Julie Mathews
Carol Lee Smith
George Thomson
Understanding what intersectionality is and how it works with the different communities of women who access violence against women services is complex and impacts those who work with these women, as front line workers, management, board of directors and volunteers.
Power and privilege compared with marginality, are not opposites. We each contain, in our own social locations, different elements of both, causing a blending of how they interact and intersect in our daily lives, how we work with the women we serve, and how aware we are (or not aware we are) about our privileges.
It's important to name and highlight the different intersectional identities that exist, and have ways to explain and understand how they function. A few examples are provided, to give readers an idea of what it means to apply an intersectional lens and continue to work from a feminist, anti-oppressive, client-centered and trauma- and violence- informed perspective.
Comprendre ce qu’est l’intersectionnalité et comment elle fonctionne au sein des différentes communautés de femmes qui accèdent à des services de lutte contre la violence à l’encontre des femmes est complexe et elle a des effets sur les personnes qui œuvrent auprès de ces femmes : les travailleuses de première ligne, les gestionnaires, les membres de conseils d’administration et les bénévoles.
Le pouvoir et le privilège, par rapport à la marginalité, ne sont pas des opposés. Chacun d’entre nous a, dans ses propres situations sociales, des éléments différents des deux notions. Par conséquent, il se crée un mélange dans la façon dont ces notions interagissent et se croisent dans notre vie quotidienne, et dans la façon dont nous travaillons avec les femmes que nous servons, et dans notre prise de conscience (ou notre absence de conscience) de nos privilèges.
Discussions around ending violence against women (VAW) in Muslim communities in Canada have often been steeped with Islamophobia. When gendered violence is perpetrated in white non-Muslim Canadian contexts, the violence is viewed as being rooted in patriarchy, rather than in Canadian culture or the country’s major religious institutions. In contrast, when gendered violence is perpetrated within Muslim communities in Canada, there is an “exclusive emphasis on culture as the sole source of patriarchal violence” (Razack, 2004), and the solution becomes about “rescuing Muslim women from their feudal cultures” (Razack, 2004).
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Groupe pour femmes de 55 ans et plus: apercu du guide et des meilleures pratiques - 55+ Women's Group: Overview of the Guide and Best Practices. Presented by Karine Denis and Annick Bovin, Centre Passerelle pour femmes du nord de l"Ontario (CPF).
This video is presented in French with English captions.