Community-based research is an approach to research that places community at the forefront and aims to achieve social justice through social action and change. At WomanACT, we are always learning about how to better engage survivors in all aspects of research, including design, implementation and knowledge mobilization. We strive to ensure that our research is trauma-informed, survivor-centered and addresses power imbalances that are common in research relationships.
This guide was developed to support researchers in engaging survivors both ethically and positively. This guide also considers the challenges of conducting research during a pandemic and how researchers can work effectively to collaborate with survivors in a changing environment.
Access to justice is a human rights and equity issue that is significant to all Canadians, including women experiencing violence. In the last decade, technology has been identified as a potential mechanism to address the barriers to justice. Technology has changed how organizations and sectors deliver legal services, information and support. While there is a common narrative around technology in literature as a tool to perpetuate violence, there is a need to understand how technology can improve survivor’s access to justice and help facilitate their safety.
This literature review explores the literature at the intersections of these three areas of discourse – violence against women, access to justice and technology. It explores the role of technology in increasing survivor’s access to legal information and services as well as potential risks and considerations.
The Supporting Safe STEM Workplaces project is working to improve access to legal supports and resources for victims of sexual harassment in STEM industry workplaces across Canada.
Sexual harassment is a prevalent issue across Canada that permeates into places of work. In the workplace it can negatively impact productivity and motivation, increase stress, and increase the likelihood of employees leaving their jobs. In response to the high rates of sexual harassment in STEM workplaces, the project will work with STEM industry partners to better understand the needs, barriers, and opportunities related to preventing and responding to sexual harassment.
WomanACT is partnered with the Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology to provide tailored support and training to help workplaces prevent sexual harassment, develop comprehensive policy, establish trauma-informed reporting mechanisms and develop avenues for resolution and referral pathways to support.
Publications:
Literature Review: Safe STEM Workplaces
In January 2021, the Canadian government announced a commitment to develop a National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence. Leading up to the development of the Plan, we undertook consultations with community organizations and survivors on what they wanted to see in the Plan.
The report provides an overview of what we heard from consultations, including key messages and priorities for the Plan.
Financial well-being has a significant impact on women’s safety. Women’s economic insecurity can marginalize women, increasing their risk of victimization. It is also a barrier to their safety. Financial hardship after leaving an abusive relationship is a near universal experience for survivors.
This submission highlights the connections between women’s financial literacy, economic security and violence against women. The submission proposes recommendations to the National Strategy for Financial Literacy in Canada on how to help close the financial literacy gender gap in Canada while also working to promote women’s financial independence and safety.
Technology and violence against women are closely connected. While technology can help women access information and services, it can also be used to perpetuate violence.
This infographic looks at the ways in which technology and gender-based violence are related.
Technology creates new ways to perpetuate violence against women, including sending harassing text messages, tracking someone using the GPS on their device or threatening to share someone’s private images without their permission.
This infographic looks at the different types of technology-based violence and ways we can address it.
Risk assessment, safety planning and information sharing are common practices in the violence against women sector to help identify the likelihood of repeat or increased violence and prevent further harm. The practice of information sharing between providers is seen by many as an effective way to reduce serious harm.
This report draws on focus groups and interviews with service providers and explores their experiences of risk assessment and information sharing, including challenges and promising practices. The aim of the report is to help inform the wider MARAC project which is aimed at piloting high risk domestic violence tables in three communities across Ontario.
In Ontario, the Employment Standards Act (ESA) outlines various leaves of absence that employees are legally entitles to take. Domestic or sexual violence leave was added to the ESA in 2017.
The factsheet answers frequently asked questions about the leave as well as how employees can access the leave entitlement.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on survivors of gender-based violence and the organizations that support them. Health and safety measures to curb the spread of the virus have resulted in some survivors left isolating with their abusers and facing additional economic and social pressures.
This report highlights findings from a consultation we undertook at the outset of the pandemic. The report summarizes the challenges and concerns of service agencies working with survivors, information on the support they require to continue to operate during a pandemic as well as information on what is working well.