This paper focuses on the impact of the corporatization of human services on the feminist anti-violence sector and the needs and issues to which it responds. Issues such as the blurring of public and private funding strategies, the conversion of social perception about the value of civil vs. corporate influence on governance, severe cuts to health and social programs, and restrictive interpretation of charitable activities are all part of the corporatization effect, and not only limit how feminist anti-violence workers can do their work in line with their principles and mandates, but also point to the shrinking space for anti-oppression activism and advocacy.
Paper presented at the 2005 Canadian Social Welfare Policy Conference Forging Social Futures, by Mandy Bonisteel and Linda Green.
A research paper that was commissioned by the Domestic Violence Advisory Council in 2007 to help fulfill the mandate of developing recommendations that could be achieved by making better use of existing resources and building on promising practices. The report examines how the trend toward gender-neutral language in talking about intimate partner violence results in misrepresenting the research on the nature of violence. Rather than being more inclusive, gender neutral - or bi-directional - language promotes understandings of woman abuse / domestic violence as mutual, reciprocal, or bi-directional. This is contrary to our understanding and research on context, injury, sexual assualt, and women's experiences of violence. The use of language has large implications for policy and research, and it is important that we understand how we use langague to ensure the needs and interests of women who experience violence are served.
This report was written by Walter S. DeKeseredy and Molly Dragiewicz for development of Transforming Our Communitites: Report from the Domestic Violence Advisory Council for he Minister Responsible for Women's Issues.
This Final Research Report on funding issues for on-reserve women's shelters in Canada was instigated by the concern that the rate of INAC (Indian and Northern Affairs Canada) funding would lead to the closure of some shelters permanently. The existing funding formula looked at 4 categories: staff, salaries, other expenses, remoteness. However, this formula does not take into account a number of factors which impact on the ability of shelters to operate, including:
- province of operation
- shelter size
- remoteness details
- supports for staff training and facilities upgrades
- standards for shelter services
- governance structure of shelters
- reporting requirements
This film explores the concept of Harm Reduction and examines some of the ways this model can be adopted for VAW organizations wishing to create inclusive safe space for women who are using substances.
Approx. 30 minutes
There is a Discussion Guide to be used in conjunction with this video.
This report explores the intersection between VAW, substance use and mental health concerns. Key issues emerging based on interviews, questionnaires and other input from women with lived experience of VAW and mental health and/or substance use concerns were divided into 3 key areas: Service Gaps, Funding Gaps, and Policy Gaps. Some of the highlighted issues within each group were:
- Service Gaps - includes lack of integration of services, lack of recognition of the connections among women's concerns, most marginalized women have the most difficulty accessing services
- Funding Gaps - includes funding by different Ministries fro mental health and substance use programs and VAW services, targetted funding undermines holistic approach to deal with multitude of concerns women experience, short-term funding makes partnerships and programming difficult
- Policy Gaps - policy is not violence-informed using a gender-based analysis; many public policies contribute to, rather than reduce, harms to women
This report submitted to Ministry of Indian Affairs and Northern Development on March 9, 2007, describes the results of a three-phase consultation process held to develop a recommendation to the Minister regarding a viable legislative option to address matrimonial real property issues on reserves. The parties involved were Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), and the Native Woman's Association of Canada (NWAC).
This report provides ratings of each strategic framework that was established by the three previous Summits to End Violence Against Aboriginal Women. The strategic goals being evaluated include data collection on VAW in Aboriginal communities, legal reform and legislative change regarding VAW, creation of a comprehensive policy in Ontario, programs designed to address VAW, public education campaign to create awareness, and community leadership.
This report looks at what is needed for economic strategies to deal with the recession and poverty to have positive impacts for women. The paper explores what causes poverty for women and looks at what strategies for addressing women's poverty must include. Key issues covered include: paid employment, wages, and occupational segregation; child care; unpaid labour; EI and social assistance; older women and pensions; and marginalized women.Comparisons are made with other states in the EU and UK.