Living with, leaving or recovering from sexual or domestic violence takes tremendous courage.
Many survivors do not talk about their experiences for years. The effects of sexual violence and violence in intimate relationships include shame, fear, self-blame and a profound sense of helplessness. Statistically, violence is most often perpetrated by someone who is known to the victim. This may be a person the victim has lived with for many years, cooperated with, or with whom she has developed a life and attachment to. In addition, many women – especially those with small children, no independent income, and recent newcomers to Canada – remain in volatile situations because they have no money and no place to go.
Many survivors don’t identify their experiences as sexual assault. Many do not know that it’s against the law. A woman or man chooses what they will disclose – and to whom – based on whom they feels safest with.
You may be:
If you have any helping or leadership role in a community, chances are fair that at some time, a person who has experienced violence will disclose to you.
Please view the following information:
When screening for abuse, ask about any violence in a direct but compassionate way.
Physical safety is the first priority. If you believe she is in danger, tell her. Help her create a safety plan
You should know that children who witness the abuse of their mothers are considered to be at risk of suffering harm. Many children who witness their mother’s abuse are often abused themselves. Throughout the 1990s, many children living in abusive homes were injured, traumatized or even killed. This caused reform to the Child & Family Services Act, which is a body of Canadian laws meant to protect children.
Today by law – whether you are a teacher, social worker, neighbor or a parent of another child – if you have reasonable grounds to suspect a child is being harmed, you must report to the Children’s Aid Society (CAS). There are many things that can be considered harmful.
Specifically, you must call the CAS if:
The CAS operates in Ontario to ascertain the safety of vulnerable children. Only in extreme circumstances are children removed from the family home.
Title: Empowering Us All Artist: Stephen Rea The following piece was created after the passing of the great Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. I was compelled to create the piece to serve as a reminder of the amazing qualities, tributes and passion for women’s activism that she brought to this world. The use of…
