The healthcare system is one of the most used public services by survivors of intimate partner violence, however the barriers to healthcare access are significantly increased for survivors who are older than 55 and living with disabilities. 

The aim of this brief is to increase awareness of the unique needs and experiences of older survivors living with disabilities in accessing and using health services. It offers an intersectional analysis about barriers to access, abuse tactics related to health, experiences with service delivery and health professionals, and how these practices directly and indirectly impact a survivor’s health. 

On August 14th, 2024, WomanACT’s Executive Director, Harmy Mendoza, spoke at the Province’s Standing Committee on Justice Policy as part of their study on Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). WomanACT emphasized on the importance of adopting a prevention-focused response model to end intimate partner violence and gender-based violence in Ontario.

This written submission details evidence-based literature on the necessity of declaring IPV as an epidemic in Ontario as well as an evaluation from a public health perspective. It elaborates on our policy recommendations focusing on: affordable housing, improved systems collaboration with a focus on prevention, the need for whole-of-society approach to GBV education and bystander training, and addressing the lack of coordinated and comprehensive data and evaluation strategy and open access to GBV data.

The Safe and Stable Housing through Intentional Partnership (SSHIP) project aims to develop a comprehensive governance model and research process for collecting trauma-informed longitudinal housing data for diverse survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). Through collaboration with community partners and pilot studies at key women’s shelters, SSHIP will innovate and test effective methods for understanding and addressing housing instability. The project’s ultimate goal is to scale these models and protocols, providing sustainable housing solutions and enhancing support for IPV survivors across Canada.

_{This project has been funded through Women and Gender Equality Canada’s Women’s Program.}

Understanding the legislative process is crucial to grasping how decisions are made, and laws are passed in our province. In Ontario, the journey of a bill from its initial proposal to becoming law involves several key stages and rigorous scrutiny. For Bill 173- The Intimate Partner Violence Act, 2024 to become law, it needs to pass through Ontario’s legislative process that includes the Legislative Assembly (Elected MPPs) and the Monarch (Head of State, represented by the Lieutenant Governor in Ontario).

WomanACT has developed this explainer on how a bill becomes law in the province of Ontario to help build community knowledge and understanding of the provincial legislative process.

We would like to acknowledge MPP Peggy Sattler’s office for their support in the creation of this resource.

The development of the “Bill 173 – The Current State of Intimate Partner Violence in Ontario” resource package has been a collaborative effort with our members and community partners. Their contributions have been instrumental in gathering a comprehensive collection of research and evidence-based recommendations from experts, community organizations, and academics on the current state of intimate partner violence (IPV). This collaboration reflects our collective specialized knowledge in this field.

Through extensive engagement, we have ensured that the resources included in this package comprehensively acknowledge existing efforts and evidence-based research. These resources address the genuine needs and evolving realities of women and gender-diverse people facing violence in Ontario.

We gratefully acknowledge the generous contributions of our members and our partners in the violence against women sector. Representing a wide range of sectors, populations, and areas of expertise, their support has been crucial in validating the combined research and advocacy efforts behind this bill.

Designed to build organizational capacity, this guide draws on principles of anti-racist, anti-oppressive (ARAO), and trauma-informed practice (TIP) to create a supportive organizational framework for those working in the gender-based violence (GBV) sector and related fields.

This guide outlines how a holistic approach can best support the needs of racialized survivors of GBV.

Designed with service providers in mind, this guide draws on anti-racist, anti-oppressive (ARAO), and trauma-informed practice (TIP) principles to provide a framework to support those in the gender-based violence (GBV) and related sectors to create more inclusive support systems for diverse communities of survivors.

This resource highlights the need for ARAO practices that integrate a trauma-informed approach, detailing key principles such as recognizing social differences, understanding power dynamics, and incorporating decolonizing efforts. It highlights why trauma-informed care principles are crucial to addressing the holistic needs of Racialized survivors and considers how different forms of oppression and trauma can intersect. The guide also offers practical tools and reflective exercises for frontline professionals.

Indigenous, Black and Racialized women face unique, intersecting, and compounding forms of gender and racial discrimination that impact their employment opportunities and experiences in the workplace.

This brief provides an overview of the structural and individual dimensions of gender and racial discrimination and how this intersection impacts the opportunities and experiences of Indigenous, Black, and Racialized women in Canadian workplaces. Additionally, it spotlights the intersection of gender-based violence in the workplace.

Survivors shared their challenges navigating the legal system on their journey to safety and stability throughout the pandemic in research conducted by WomanACT and University of Guelph. The infographic looks at the supports requested by the survivors to help them navigate the legal system better.

Survivors shared their challenges navigating the legal system on their journey to safety and stability throughout the pandemic in research conducted by WomanACT and University of Guelph. The infographic looks at the number of legal factors survivors must account for.