The is final report from the Standing Committee on the Status of Women since mandated in 2010 to underake research on the extent, types, causes and remedies on Violence Against Aboriginal Women in Canada. In this final report, the Committee has shifted its focus from the aftermath of the violence to empowering young Aboriginal girls and women, supporting their desire to strive for a better life of independence, confidence, influence and power, with the goal of reducting the victimization, poverty, prostitution and abuse experieneced by Aboriginal women and girls.
Submitted Dec 2011 to the 41st Parliament, 1st Session, by Irene Mayyssen, MP, and Chair of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women.
This book is intended to offer communities a guiding framework to develop interventions and measure progress as they seek to improve their responses to families experiencing domestic violence and child maltreatment (child abuse). It answers the questions: How can child protection services work together with domestic violence service providers to enhance the safety of multiple victims in violent homes? How can juvenile courts protect children when their mothers are being abused without re-victimizing the mother? How can communities protect battered mothers and their children and hold abusers accountable for their violence?
*Reproduced with Permission from the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.
This interim report looks at the progress towards implementing recommendations made in the final report of the Domestic Violence Advisory Council in 2009, "Transforming our Communities". It covers progress in the areas of:
- better community-based supports for victims
- identifying women at risk and early intervention
- changing attitudes to prevent domestic violence
- strengthening the justice system response
- improved access and equity to government services and programs
- better access to french-language services
- recognizing the unique needs of Aboriginal peoples
This report is based on consultations with service providers and others on the evolution of French-language services (FLS) over the previous decade and proposes various elements which may guide future development. Some of the key priorites identified are:
- political commitment from the provincial government to redress historical inequities in funding FLS
- measures to ensure accountability to government and the Francophone community
- increase in core funding for 24/7 crisis services
- development of SACs and Shelters servicing Francophone women in key identified areas
- increased investment and development in conjunction with community-based anti-violence groups at the local and provincial levels
OAITH letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Dec 7, 2006, regarding elimination of the Court Challenges program and changes to the Status of Women mandate and funding. Concerns are raised about failing to recongizing the critical links between advocacy and equality, and OAITH calls on the government to reinstate programs and funding that are needed to increase women's safety and prevent violence against women.
In December, 2009, OAITH responded to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing as part of a consultation on a Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy in Ontario. Using a historical lens and data from the national Transition Home Survey 2007/2008 and other research data,OAITH provides an analysis of the factors that need to be included in a Housing Strategy to ensure it effectively addressing the challenges of finding affordable housing solutions facing women leaving situations of violence.
In December, 2004, OAITH submitted a response to the Affordable Housing Strategy Stakeholder Consultation process. The response emphasizes the priority that needs to be placed on housing for women and children, who face significant economic and other barriers to accessing adequate housing. Recommendations are made for immediate priority housing of 20,000 new units, addressing specific needs of women in housing development, re-establishment of effective rent control, protecting and enforcing the special priority for abused women, and second stage housing support.
This policy paper was prepared for the Second National Aboriginal Women's Summit II in Yellowknife, NT held from July 29 to 31, 2008. It provides background information for the Summit on the topic of Culturally Relevant Gender Based Analysis (CRGBA). It builds on a previous paper on the topic, and looks at the inadequacies of consultation with government to-date. Despite some positive collaborative processes, legislation and legislative amendments continue to be written without Aboriginal participation and consequently fail to recognize some key issues such as the recognition of Aboriginal and Treaty rights. The paper puts forth recommendations for creating more inclusive, culturally appropriate legislation and policy that reflects the needs, concerns and voices of Aboriginal people.
This practical guide for implementing an integrated, anti-racist, feminist service delivery sysem is designed to support service providers in creating inclusive spaces for women within their organizations, evaluate the work they have done so far. The manual provides a guide to building a step-by-step realistic workplan to make the changes needed in any organization.