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16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM AGAINST VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN - ARE YOU READY TO TAKE ACTION? DAY 6

11/30/2016

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Day 6:
 
Did you know that Peel has services to support Francophone and French-speaking survivors of violence? 
 
The Peel Violence Against Women(VAW)/French Language Services(FLS) Referral Agreement is to support the Region of Peel's agencies in the VAW sectors to work collaboratively to fulfill the requirement of active offer as outlined in Ontario Regulation 284/11 under the French Language Services Act (FLSA). This agreement partners with OASIS centre des femmes and la Maison d'hébergement pour femmes francophone, who are funded by Ontario's Ministry of Community and Social Services which provide services exclusively in French for women and children who have experienced violence.
 
All 12 Peel MCSS-VAW service providers that are partners to this agreement, recognize and respect the rights of all French-speaking women who are survivors of violence and their children who witness violence against women to receive services in their own language. This agreement has been created to ensure and enhance the capacity of all MCSS funded VAW services in Peel to address the needs of francophone women and their children.
 
http://www.pcawa.org/vawfls-referral-agreement.html
 
Take Action:
 
Book a free workshop with the PCAWA Coordinator today about the referral agreement and how to encourage Francophone and French-speaking survivors to come and feel safe in your agency and make referrals to agencies that provide services in French.  This workshop is available to any agency in Peel that may provide services to women who have experienced violence, and after the training, you can become a signatory to the VAW/FLS Referral Agreement.  Contact Paula Lam, PCAWA Coordinator, at pcawa@pcawa.org or 905-823-3441 today.  Training can be done at your agency and is typically 45 min to 1 hour, but is developed based on your needs.
 
PCAWA is also hosting its annual vigil and shoe memorial event in honour of National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women on Dec 6th, 2016 from 5-6pm at The Great Hall in Mississauga Civic Centre (300 City Centre Drive, Mississauga).  In our commitment to supporting Francophone and French-speaking women in Peel, we have our event flyers translated in French.  Please share our French language poster for our Dec 6th event and attend our event:
 
http://www.pcawa.org/events.html
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16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM AGAINST VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN - ARE YOU READY TO TAKE ACTION? DAY 5

11/29/2016

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Day 5:

Today is “International Women Human Rights Defenders Day,” a day to recognize and protect women human rights defenders. We acknowledge that around the globe, women fighting for all human rights for all people and all activists defending women’s rights face specific violations as a result of their advocacy or their gender. We admire and celebrate these defenders for their great acts of bravery and courageous acts of resistance.

(Source: http://www.defendingwomen-defendingrights.org/)
 
 Take Action:
 
Be an ally and speak out and defend women human rights defenders.  Many people do not realize the gender-specific risk women human rights defenders face or the important work that they do.   Learn more at http://www.defendingwomen-defendingrights.org/ #SheDefends
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16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM AGAINST VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN - ARE YOU READY TO TAKE ACTION? DAY 4

11/28/2016

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Day 4:
 
Let’s show our support for women who have made a decision to flee from violence and seek safety

Take Action:
​

Donate to a local women’s shelter, or a cause that focuses on ending violence against women. Support the Wrapped In Courage campaign (http://wrappedincourage.wixsite.com/wrappedincourage) and purchase a purple scarf in Peel from Interim Place (http://www.interimplace.com/) for $15 from Julia Robinson, Development Coordinator, at 905-403-9691 ext. 2223 or development@interimplace.com - Purple pashminas available and limited stock on infinity scarves.
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16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM AGAINST VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN - ARE YOU READY TO TAKE ACTION? DAY 3

11/27/2016

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Day 3:

Every six days, a woman is killed by an intimate partner.

Statistics Canada data shows that the number of women murdered by a current or former partner fluctuates each year, but works out to about one homicide every six days.

(Source: http://canadianwomen.org/blog/10-reasons-violence-still-a-problem)

Although an abused woman does not have control over her ex-partner, or partner's violence, it is possible to increase her and her children's safety. Creating a safety plan involves identifying action steps to increase your safety, and preparing in advance for the possibility of further violence.  Download PCAWA’s safety planning guide here:
http://www.pcawa.org/safety-planning-guide.html
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Take Action:
Share PCAWA’s Safety Planning Guide with your contacts on social media and in person.
http://www.pcawa.org/safety-planning-guide.html    
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16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM AGAINST VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN - ARE YOU READY TO TAKE ACTION? DAY 2

11/26/2016

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Day 2:
Are you concerned about someone you think is being abused, but don’t know what to do? Here are some warning signs of abuse from the Neighbours, Friends and Families website, which is a public education campaign to raise awareness of the signs of woman abuse so that those close to an at-risk woman or an abusive man can help.  

Warning Signs of Abuse

You may suspect abuse is happening to a neighbour, friend or family member, but do not know what to do or how to talk about it. You may worry about making the situation worse, or be concerned about what to do. By understanding the warning signs and risk factors of woman abuse, you can help. 

If you recognize some of these warning signs, it may be time to take action: 

(“They” refers to the husband, partner, ex-husband, or whoever is current hurting her.)

  • They put her down 
  • They do all the talking and dominate the conversation 
  • They check up on her all the time, even at work 
  • They try to suggest they are the victim and act depressed 
  • They try to keep her away from you 
  • They act as if they owns her 
  • They lie to make themselves look good or exaggerate their good qualities 
  • They act like they are superior and of more value than others in their home 
  • She is apologetic and makes excuses for their behaviour or she becomes aggressive and angry 
  • She is nervous talking when they’re there 
  • She seems to be sick more often and misses work 
  • She tries to cover her bruises 
  • She makes excuses at the last minute about why she can’t meet you or she tries to avoid you on the street 
  • She seems sad, lonely, withdrawn and is afraid 
(While most abuse occurs in intimate heterosexual relationships, it can occur in gay and lesbian relationships as well.) 

Take Action:
​Read more about how to have conversations with neighbours, friends, families and coworkers who may be at risk for violence or may be abusive themselves: Learn the SNCit conversation framework for how to SEE abuse, NAME abuse, and CHECK it to open the door to support on the Neighbours, Friends and Families website.
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16 Days of Activism Against Violence Against Women - Are you ready to Take Action? Day 1

11/25/2016

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​Peel Committee Against Women Abuse (PCAWA) is participating in the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign from November 25th (the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) to December 10th (Human Rights Day).  For the next 16 days (including this one), the PCAWA will be sending out suggestions on the actions you can take to end violence against women and support women in transition.  We encourage all community partners and community members to mark the 16 Days of Activism with us.  Together we can make a difference and contribute to ending violence against women. 
 
Day 1:

Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and also the first day of the 16 Days of Activism Against Violence Against Women Campaign.  This year marks the 25th anniversary of this international campaign that started from the first Women's Global Leadership Institute coordinated by the Center for Women's Global Leadership in 1991. The dates (November 25 - International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and December 10 - International Human Rights Day) were chosen in order to symbolically link violence against women and human rights, increase awareness of the systemic nature of violence against women, and to emphasize that such violence is a violation of women’s human rights. This 16-day period also highlights other significant dates including November 29 International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, December 1 World AIDS Day, and December 6, which marks the Anniversary of the Montreal Massacre.
 
(Sources: http://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/ending-violence-against-women/take-action/16-days-of-activism and http://16dayscwgl.rutgers.edu/)
 
Take Action:  
​
The UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE to End Violence against Women Campaign theme for 2016 is: “ORANGE THE WORLD: RAISE MONEY TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN”.  Our local community partner GRAN (Grandmothers Advocacy Network) has asked the City of Mississauga to light their buildings orange.  Please “orange” your clothes, facebook profile picture, and spaces today and spread the word through social media #orangetheworld and #16days

For more information:
facebook.com/SayNO.UNiTE
twitter.com/SayNO_UNiTE 
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Peel region's femicide list 2014

1/16/2015

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We were inspired by OAITH's annual femicide list to develop a Peel specific annual femicide list. Below you will find the 2014 femicide list developed by the PCAWA.

Please pass along as appropriate. If we have missed a woman (and her children) killed as a result of gender-based violence, please contact us to update this list.

peel_femicide_list_2014.pdf
File Size: 1034 kb
File Type: pdf
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Wrapping up 2014

1/6/2015

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The past year has marked a significant turn in my life, and my personal association with violence against women (VAW).

One of the key highlights of the year has been my internship at PCAWA that began in July of 2014. This experience at PCAWA has been one of the most rewarding work experiences, and one of the few places where the staff and space are safe and welcoming. Starting at PCAWA, I thought I knew what I was doing, but I really had no idea whatsoever. The amount of acronyms I heard within a 5 minute conversation left me lost in translation, and the amount of times I said yes to things I had no idea how to do, were endless. But it was through this confusion and desperation to learn that I was able to teach myself and learn from those around me. I was able to acquire so many new skills that retail, work or school were unable to provide, and grasped new levels of knowledge about VAW services that I didn’t know before.

The community outreach has been one of my favourite aspects of this position because I get to meet survivors who I can learn from, listen to and share with. One the proudest moments for me was the PCAWA December 6th Commemorative Vigil and Shoe Memorial which marked the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. The event was held at the Living Arts Centre and engaged over 100 participants, and provided a memorable event full of tears, smiles, and good food. One of the guest speakers said something that day that stuck with me. She said in a world where women are subject to so much violence, let us women remember to be kind to each other and make it easier for one another.

This particular advice startled me. It also gave me the courage to reach out to those in my own life who had opened up to me about violence they had experienced. I learnt to be more compassionate with the women in my family who I didn’t always see eye to eye with about women’s issues. Soon I would learn several women in my family were survivors.  

If I have learnt one thing this year, it has been compassion. 2014 marked a year where sexual violence was reported almost as frequently as your local weather; the coverage most times sensationalized and insensitive. The effects it had on myself and those around me led me to place greater value on self-care, and compassion for those around me.

Overall, I am excited to continue working at PCAWA in the New Year, where I am able to constantly grow and learn from new experiences. 


Rhona Rahmani
PCAWA Communications and Research Intern 
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Statement of Solidarity                                                      Marking Take Back the Night 2014 : Stop the violence against women and girls

9/23/2014

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In 1975, Susan Alexander Speeth, a young microbiologist from Philadelphia, was stabbed to death walking home, no more than a block from her house. The first Take Back the Night rally was organized in October of that year as a response to her murder, emerging from women’s desire to make the streets a safe place at night. Today, the movement takes place all over the world, and September is recognized across Canada for TBTN and a call for an end to all forms of sexual violence and the creation of safe communities and respectful and equitable relationships. TBTN activities include rallies, marches, dinners, coffee houses, and candlelight vigils, and are designed to raise the awareness of safety issues for women and girls, and to protest the harassment, sexual abuse, and assaults experienced by many women and girls in our society.

The Peel Committee against Woman Abuse (PCAWA), Peel's DV3C, stands in solidarity with gender-equity seeking groups locally across Peel Region and surrounding areas, and across Ontario, Canada and internationally in drawing attention to violence experienced by women and girls. We echo the call for communities to come together to keep streets safe and demand lives free from the threat of violence and a world in which women and girl's personal safety and control over their bodies and selves are not at risk.

In 2012 Justice Canada estimated that the economic cost of domestic violence was around $7.4 billion annually. In 2013 OAITH recorded that 32 women and children died in Ontario as a result of gender-based violence. Violence against women and girls affects entire communities; half of all women in Canada have experienced at least one incident of physical or sexual violence since the age of 16. However, Indigenous women in particular experience violence at a disproportionate rate to other women in Canada. The RCMP recently confirmed there are 1,186 cases of missing or murdered Indigenous women, and it is expected this number is much higher than the one reported. We stand in solidarity with Indigenous communities across Canada in calling for a national inquiry into these missing and murdered women.

To mark this year's Take Back The Night, we encourage you to take a moment of silence to honour the lives of women and girls taken in 2014. Additionally, we encourage you to work in solidarity with gender-equity seeking groups in your community calling for an end to gender-based violence.     

For the third year in Peel, PCAWA is a planning partner of Peel's only Sisters in Spirit Vigil taking place at 6pm on Saturday, Oct 4th at Gage Park, Brampton.  We urge you to come out and stand in solidarity with Indigenous communities and allies in Peel in honouring the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous women.

Thank you,
Toni Francis,
PCAWA Coordinator





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Recent physical attacks on women and other forms of gender-based violence in Peel Region are unacceptable!

6/26/2014

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
23rd July 2014

Mississauga, ON - Today the Mississauga News reports that a man attempted to grab a woman out jogging yesterday morning. The woman was fortunate to break free and call the police for assistance but the perpetrator of this attempted assault as of this morning, was still at large. This troubling incident is further unsettling because it follows on the back of  two recent cases of assault against women: there was an incident of a stabbing of a woman in Brampton only a month ago. The male suspect in this incident, who was known to the woman, has been arrested but the woman was airlifted to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. A woman was sexually assaulted earlier this month in Port Credit- today we've learnt that Peel Police have made an arrest in connection with this case.

The majority of violence experienced by women is perpetrated by someone they know, but women's safety is not only about violence experience in the home, but her ability to enjoy her community without fear and insecurity. Gender-based violence affects women's quality of life, their families and their communities, affects how women access public space when they're by themselves during the day or the night and is widely considered a human rights violation and public health issue that we should all be concerned about.


We strongly condemn this violence!

We encourage you to review the recently published UTM CampUs Project report, which documents the safety audit completed on the UTM campus in order to address issues of violence against women. Though this audit was specific to the university campus, the experiences of fear and insecurity experienced by women accessing public space is transferable, and the recommendations are important on and off a campus. 

Toni Francis, Coordinator, PCAWA


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