Ending Violence Blog
Via our award winning blog Battered Women’s Support Services provides education and advocacy as we work towards the elimination of violence.
What the Ghomeshi Verdict Tells us About the Criminal Justice System and Sexual Assault
The Jian Ghomeshi trial and verdict reminds us that rape culture persists in Canada. Conviction rates for sexual assaults in Canada are 0.3 % and the Ghomeshi verdict is another case that falls under this deficiency. It is no longer sufficient to have national...
A Heartfelt Thanks
Yesterday was our annual volunteer recognition dinner which is held every year during the week of International Women’s Day. The recognition dinner is an opportunity for us to honour the significant contributions our volunteers have made through crisis and victim...
Women Artisans at My Sister’s Closet, a social enterprise of Battered Women’s Support Services
Ever since 1909, International Women's Day (originally called International Working Women's Day) has been celebrated and depending on the region the focus of the celebrations range from general celebration of respect, appreciation, and love towards women for their...
Honouring Frances Wasserlein on International Women’s Day 2016
Battered Women’s Support Services honours one of our founding members Frances Jane Wasserlein, was an extraordinary and prominent Vancouver women’s and LGBTQ rights activist and arts administrator, who passed to the spirit world recently at her home at the Sunshine...
Violence Against Senior Women
Much has been written about violence against women, teen dating violence and about elder abuse. The invisibility of the abuse of senior women is what Battered Women’s Support Services seeks to change. Annually, approximately 1,400 senior women reach out to BWSS...
Coalition on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Submission regarding National Inquiry Design
Coalition on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Submission regarding National Inquiry Design February 13, 2016 In response to the invitation to participate in the pre-inquiry process, below we have set out some of the Coalition’s key recommendations with...
Sexual Violence and Disclosures
Sexual Violence and Disclosures many women who access BWSS say that sexual abuse is an ongoing part of their intimate relationships In all situations of sexual violence, the responses to initial disclosures influence the recovery process and outcomes for survivors. As...
“Their Spirits Live Within Us” 26th Annual Women’s Memorial March
"Their Spirits Live Within Us" Join Battered Women's Support Services on Sunday, February 14th for the 26th Annual Women's Memorial March. The February 14th Women's Memorial March is an opportunity to come together to grieve the loss of our beloved sisters in Downtown...
#SurvivorLoveLetter
#SurvivorLoveLetter started as a call to survivors of sexual violence and their loved ones to publicly celebrate life and living. Through sharing stories of survival #SurvivorLoveLetter seeks to build knowledge and reflect on ways we heal ourselves and our...
#UseTheRightWords
Encouraging social media users to UseTheRightWords While increased media coverage of violence against women is needed to create awareness, it can be problematic when coverage misrepresents reality. For example, at times rape is reported as “sex” and there are...
A few ways to deal with coverage of the Jian Ghomeshi trial
As Jian Ghomeshi’s trial began Monday, February 1, 2016, the first of two sexual assault trials taking place in Toronto, we are beginning to see a rash of articles and think pieces about Ghomeshi’s career, about how the trial could be for the complainants, about...
Compass Cards Compromise Women’s Safety and Enable Abusers
By Jamie Rich, Crisis Line and Intake Coordinator at Battered Women’s Support Services The dangers women face when navigating and exiting an abusive relationships are many, and the compass card system has provided another tool in the arsenal of abusers. BWSS is...