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Consortium Formed to Support Sex Workers to Transition, Exit or Retire from Sex Industry

Jan 5, 2017 | Battered Women's Support Services, Events, Media Advisory

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
January 5, 2017

Consortium Formed to Support Sex Workers to Transition, Exit or Retire from Sex Industry

Vancouver, B.C. – Vancouver has among North America’s largest sex worker populations, yet there are currently no services explicitly and exclusively designed to assist sex workers in transitioning from sex work involvement to other forms of employment.

A consortium of five agencies was formed and funded to respond to the existing gaps and effectively meet the needs of those who do sex work which are Aboriginal Front Door, Battered Women’s Support Services (BWSS), HUSTLE at HIM – Health Infinitive for Men, PACE Society, and WISH Drop-In Centre Society.

The primary objectives of a five year funded project called Transitions are to develop and implement a transitioning, retiring, exiting program that is responsive to the needs of sex workers in this community.

Transitions is currently hiring a Program Coordinator, and Service Coordinators who will be trained, supported by, and incorporated into their respective Consortium organization’s staff/team. They will be immersed in the culture of each organization to provide fluid service delivery consistent with each organization’s mandate, existing staff, population group, culture, and approach.

“For almost 40 years, Battered Women’s Support Services has worked towards ending violence against women and girls. Each year, BWSS works with over 220 women who identify as relying on the sex economies as part of their income and/or survival” says Angela Marie MacDougall, Executive Director at BWSS “Their primary reason for accessing BWSS services is due to an abusive/violent partner, boyfriend, husband, and/or pimp. Transitions will strengthen current services provided and deliver wrap around support for women.”

“The HUSTLE Program at Health Initiative for Men (HIM) has been offering outreach and support for men in the sex industry in Vancouver for a decade and is excited to be launching their version of Transitions in 2017” says Matthew Taylor, HUSTLE Program Manager. “HIM values a non-judgmental, sex positive and strengths based philosophy through capacity building, collaboration and a comprehensive approach to healthy living. Transitions will align well with HIM’s mission by providing men with the necessary supports, life skills and options to assist them in reducing their reliance on sex work and/or transition, retire, and/or exit the sex industry.”

“Operating under a peer-driven and harm reduction approach, PACE Society has more than twenty years of experience in working with Sex Workers to address their self-identified needs,” says Laura Dilley, PACE Society Executive Director. “Every year, we provide direct services to more than 500 Sex Workers annually and have a longstanding track record of helping Sex Workers who wish to transition into other forms of work. Transitions will allow us to scale-up these efforts to better address the needs of Sex Workers in our community.”

“For more than 30 years, WISH has provided a place of respite, safety and opportunity for women engaged in street-based sex work. WISH supports approximately 350 women, daily, through a non-judgemental approach that values acceptance, caring, dignity, and respect. We are excited to provide women who access WISH’s programs and services and who seek to exit or transition out of the sex trade with dedicated, on-going support and programming to do so,” says Mebrat Beyene, WISH Executive Director. “The Transitions project provides a much-anticipated opportunity to combine the Consortium’s collective expertise and best-practices in order to focus solely on transitioning and exiting activities and programming.”

Transitions is funded by the Public Safety Canada. The Transitions Program at Battered Women’s Support Services is also funded by My Sister’s Closet– social enterprise of Battered Women’s Support Services.

Media enquiries to:

Kevin Barlow, Aboriginal Front Door – Tel. 604-255-2394 ext 101

E-mail: ceo@mvaec.ca

Laura Dilley, Executive Director PACE Society Tel. (604)-880-5913

Email: laura@pace-society.org

Mebrat Beyene, Executive Director, WISH Drop-in Society Tel. (604)-669-9474

E-mail: wishdropincentre@shaw.ca

Angela Marie MacDougall, Executive Director, Battered Women’s Support Services Tel. (604) 808 0507

E-mail: director@bwss.org

Matthew Taylor, HUSTLE Program Manager Tel. (604)- 488-1001 ext 231

E-mail: matthew@checkhimout.ca

 

Metro Vancouver Transit Police and Women’s Organizations Launch Poster Campaign Raising Awareness of Sexual Harassment and Assault on Public Transportation

Nov 29, 2016 | Battered Women's Support Services, Media Advisory

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
November 29, 2016

Metro Vancouver Transit Police and Women’s Organizations Launch Poster Campaign Raising Awareness of Sexual Harassment and Assault on Public Transportation

Vancouver, Coast Salish Territory-After four years in the making, Metro Vancouver will now have an important tool in the effort to end sexual harassment and assault on public transportation

Sexual harassment and sexual assault on public transportation is an everyday occurrence for millions of girls and women living all over the world.

The problem of sexual harassment and assault on public transport has basically been trivialized and ignored. In 2015, Metro Vancouver reports of sexual harassment and assault to police services increased 28% according to Metro Vancouver Transit Police. And even with the increase reports TransLink, the crown corporation responsible for public transportation essential ignored the daily sexual harassment and assault experienced by women on their transportation system, until today.

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BWSS attended press conference with Metro Vancouver Transit Police and Ending Violence Association to launch a poster campaign designed bring awareness, to act as a means for prevention and offender accountability.

The Metro Vancouver poster campaign comes at a time when an international poll found that 32% of women in London say they have been verbally harassed on public transport; 19% were victims of direct physical abuse. In Paris, where 85% of the women polled expressed little confidence in receiving help by a member of the public if they were in trouble. In Mexico City, 1 in every 10 women reported being physically assaulted on buses and trains. In India, where 5.5 million women enter the workforce each year, more than 50% express high concerns about the safety of their commute. According to Hollaback Vancouver, 58% of women surveyed indicated they did not feel safe on transit.

“Although statistics are helpful to illustrate how common sexual harassment and assault on public transportation is for girls and women, they cannot convey the negative impacts on women’s health and well-being” said Rona Amiri, BWSS Violence Prevention Coordinator “Despite the high levels of incidents, sexual harassment remains mainly unreported. Women tend not to report the majority of incidents, sometimes amid concerns that they would not be taken seriously.”

“An important first step has been achieved today in the acknowledgment by the transit authority of the reality for women and girls using public transportation in Metro Vancouver” said Angela Marie MacDougall, BWSS Executive Director “Sexual harassment and assault public awareness campaigns are necessary actions against silence and ignorance.  Helping to create an environment where those that would perpetrate could no longer be guaranteed they could assault women and girls with impunity.”

“Raising awareness also makes space for those that witness sexual offenses to also take action Said Samantha Kearney, Manager of BWSS social enterprise, My Sister’s Closet Eco-thrift Boutique “An awareness campaign makes visible the culture of violence that women and girls experience on the daily helping to validate and embolden women in their resistance.”

Since 2012, BWSS has been advocating with Translink for this day and we recognize this is a first step toward shifting the culture on public transportation in Metro Vancouver where women and girls can travel the city, to get to work, to get to school to do their everyday tasks with an increased sense of safety.

Media enquiries

Angela Marie MacDougall, Executive Director, Battered Women’s Support Services

E-mail: director@bwss.org

Resources

https://www.bwss.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/BWSS-Transit-Tuesday-Brochure.pdf

http://womensinitiativeedmonton.ca/addressing-sexual-harassment-on-the-streets-and-on-transit-a-concern-for-the-city/ Edmonton

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/08/19/edmonton-transit-campaign_n_8011396.html

http://www.mbta.com/about_the_mbta/news_events/?id=26580&month=4&year=13 Boston

http://www.metro.us/local/activists-public-advocate-announce-new-mta-measures-to-curb-sexual-harassment-on-mass-transit/tmWnja—77P48aZsrlHZg/ New York City

http://www.collectiveactiondc.org/our-work/wmata-anti-sexual-harassment-campaign/ Washington, DC

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/transport-for-london-launches-hard-hitting-sexual-harrassment-campaign/ London, UK

http://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/montreal-police-urge-transit-users-to-report-sexual-predators-help-victims Montreal

Previous articles and sexual harassment and transit

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/transit-sex-assault-1.3737055

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/sexual-harassment-on-the-rise-on-transit-say-police-1.2494499

http://bc.ctvnews.ca/startling-spike-in-sex-assaults-harassment-on-public-transit-1.1765761

http://rabble.ca/whatsup/dialogue-cafe-sexual-assault-safety-and-public-transit

On the BWSS website

https://www.bwss.org/sexual-assaults-womens-safety-on-public-transportation/

https://www.bwss.org/sexual-harassment-on-public-transportation-is-a-problem-we-must-solve/

Changing Women’s Lives Now, Ending Violence for Future Generations

Nov 25, 2016 | Battered Women's Support Services, Media Advisory

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
November 24, 2016

Vancouver commemorates the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

Battered Women’s Support Services – Changing Women’s Lives Now, Ending Violence for Future Generations

Vancouver, Coast Salish Territory – On Friday, November 25th the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, Vancouver’s Battered Women’s Support Services (BWSS) will convene an unprecedented configuration of local officials, Indigenous community leaders, legal and criminal justice representatives, other women’s organizations and supporters to join with women around the world and strengthen a shared vision in the effort to end violence against women and girls.

The commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women will be held at Steel Toad Brewery at 6 pm on Friday, November 25, 2016. The sold out event boasts a territorial welcome by Debra Sparrow representing the Musqueam Nation, remarks by Cecilia Point representing BWSS Board of Directors, remarks by a City of Vancouver representative, a keynote address by Dr. Jordana Aziz, video updates on BWSS frontline work and their social enterprise and the event will be Emceed by Angela Marie MacDougall, BWSS Executive Director.

It’s been 25 years since the United Nations designated November 25th as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and in light of the results of the recent U.S. presidential election, the work at BWSS has become even more essential.

“The issues discussed during the U.S. presidential election such as immigration, racism, misogyny, economic development, climate change are significant factors in the lives of women and girls in Vancouver,” said Angela Marie MacDougall, BWSS Executive Director.  “As part of the global community in Vancouver, we are poignantly aware that the U.S. has signaled a regression on social advancements and this has the potential to grind down profoundly in the lives of women and girls in our city.”

“The making of Canada as a nation is fused with violence against Indigenous women and girls.  As we approach the national inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, we must never forget that Vancouver has been ground zero for our deaths and disappearances,” said Terriea Harris, BWSS Manager, Indigenous Women’s Program, “and today Vancouver has a Fentanyl crisis and Indigenous women on the frontline once again.”

“The example set by the U.S. president elect has made the prevention of violence against women and girls more difficult,” said Rona Amiri, BWSS Violence Prevention Co-ordinator.  “So we are looking to our community in Vancouver to recommit and to be an example of a city that cares about ending violence against women and girls.”

“Vancouverites have proven to be a strong voice around the environment and climate change,” Said Samantha Kearney, Manager of BWSS social enterprise, My Sister’s Closet Eco-thrift Boutique. “At BWSS, we understand clearly the relationship between violence against women and violence against the land.  So we seek to further build our social change around these intersections.”

“Over 40% of women who access BWSS are immigrant women and 2% are refugees or have precarious immigration status,” said Rosa Elena Arteaga, Manager Direct Service and Clinical Practice.  “So we continue to mobilize ourselves around immigration law and policy reform to prevent immigrant women from being trapped in abusive relationships due to their immigration status.  We will continue to push for Vancouver to be a sanctuary city.”

“For 37 years, BWSS has used the tools of our generations to resist and transform, shifting conversations and attitudes. We have had to use sharp elbows to make space for more voices,” continued MacDougall, “and today there are more platforms, more survivors are finding their voice, using their voice and taking their space to tell their stories and resisting male violence, and what we know is that when the voices of change get louder so does the backlash.”

Media enquiries

Angela Marie MacDougall, Executive Director, Battered Women’s Support Services
E-mail: director@bwss.org

Press Release: Community and Police Take Action on Women’s Safety in Vancouver

Oct 5, 2016 | Battered Women's Support Services, Media Advisory

PRESS RELEASE 

For Immediate Release

October 5, 2016 

Community and Police Take Action on Women’s Safety in Vancouver

Women’s Safety Fair Brings Together 19 Groups at SFU Harbour Center

 

Vancouver, B.C. –Violence against women is the biggest threat to women’s equality globally. Whether it’s street harassment, sexual violence or male violence in relationships women are navigating violence and the threat of violence daily. While the struggle against violence looks different for every woman, one thing holds true, women are not passive like the media may lead us to believe.

Locally, women subvert violence in their lives through accessing community based organizations such as Battered Women’s Support Services (BWSS). Annually, Battered Women’s Support Services responds to 10,000 crisis line calls where women are seeking safety in their lives.

“This year, BWSS and women in our community are choosing to change the narrative based on the perspectives of women who push back” said Claudia Maldonado, BWSS Crisis Line & Intake Coordinator, “The women’s safety fair hosted by the Vancouver Police Department is a time to highlight that resistance while coming together with other organizations and the community”.

“This is Battered Women’s Support Services fifth year participating in the Women’s Safety Fair” said Angela Marie MacDougall, BWSS Executive Director, “and we will continue to honour women’s resistance as a reminder that women and girls are social change makers in every act of struggle against violence”.

“Our participation is our continued effort to confront the existing emphasis on women being held responsible to avoid violence perpetrated against us” said Rona Amiri, BWSS Violence Prevention Coordinator, “while raising the profile of women’s every day acts of resistance”.

The Women’s Safety will be held on October 5, 2016 at SFU Harbour Center from 11am to 4pm.

 wsf2016poster-lettersz-3

 

 

Media enquiries:  Angela Marie MacDougall, Executive Director, Battered Women’s Support Services E-mail: director@bwss.org

A Summer Fair brings opportunity for women in Vancouver’s downtown eastside

Jun 30, 2016 | Battered Women's Support Services, Media Advisory

June 30, 2016 – Coast Salish Territories

VANCOUVER, B.C. A Summer Fair in Vancouver will host women vendors and artisans from Vancouver’s downtown eastside providing safe income opportunities for women in the neighbourhood.

The Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre with support from the City of Vancouver and in collaboration with other women’s organizations including Battered Women’s Support Services, WISH, and Atira are hosting a Summer Fair beginning Saturday July 2nd operating every Saturday until September 24th on the 200 block of Columbia Street.

Over 40 women from the dtes community are provided with a safe and festive environment where they can sell hand made arts and crafts or second hand goods. Women from the dtes community are also hired, provided training, and supported to assist with the operations of the Summer Fair. As well as over 40 vending tables, the Summer Fair is seeking to create a destination where tourists and Vancouverites can spend a Saturday afternoon in a fun festive environment of music, clowns, and candy floss!

The Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre (DEWC) holds a significant role in Vancouver’s downtown eastside where high levels of violence, poverty, and addictions characterize the community and where women and children are particularly vulnerable to exploitation and injustice. DEWC provides a safe and secure space as well as basic needs and supports for over 500 women and children each day – 7 days a week.

“Services at our drop-in centre and shelter have created a safe and positive environment for the provision of basic needs and assisted women in overcoming challenges to improve their situations. As we work toward positive change for women in the Downtown Eastside, we encounter many women who would like to seek income opportunities but whose individual circumstances prevent their engagement in mainstream employment programs. A Women’s Summer Fair will provide women from the community with a source of income within an environment that holds the same values as DEWC: where women are safe, respected, and comfortable, and where their skills and abilities are recognized and valued” – Masami Tomioka, Drop-In Program Manager, Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre.

The Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre sees a secondary potential and benefit from the Summer Fair. DEWC turns away a significant amount of used goods from the general public as there is not the infrastructure to facilitate the storage and distribution. Knowing that often perfectly good and useable items are turned away and end up at the landfill, as the Summer Fair develops DEWC hopes to match people with quality goods they no longer want to women in the community who can sell at the Summer Fair.

“Although our primary purpose is to facilitate real and positive opportunities for women in the dtes community, the Summer Fair benefits everyone: it creates income opportunities for women in a safe environment; offers local women artisans a safe space to sell their art; facilitates the reuse of quality items reducing unnecessary disposal at landfills; and brings a fun and festive environment to the streets of Vancouver” – Sara Nunez, Summer Fair Coordinator, Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre.

The Summer Fair is supported by the City of Vancouver, working closely with the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre to increase opportunities for women of the dtes community in a safe environment. The Summer Fair is also being supported by the DTES Street Market Association who are providing tents, equipment, and volunteers, and a small company, Portable Electric, who have donated access to green electricity through a solar technology battery system – which will provide power to event equipment.

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For more information contact:
Alice Kendall, Executive Director, Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre 778-323-4594
Masami Tomioka, Program Manager, Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre 778-990-2572

Transit Tuesday: BWSS Announces Compass Card Safety Resource For Women

Apr 5, 2016 | Battered Women's Support Services, Media Advisory

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

TRANSIT TUESDAY: LOCAL WOMEN’S ORGANIZATION ANNOUNCES COMPASS CARD SAFETY RESOURCE FOR WOMEN

Vancouver, BC- April 5, 2016 –   Battered Women’s Support Services (BWSS) will share Compass Card Safety Resource for women at Broadway and Commercial skytrain station and online through #TransitTuesday.

BWSS shared its concerns about the compass card transit system and the risks it poses to women in abusive relationships several times since the system came into effect. Registering a compass card allows for tracking. For women in abusive relationships this can compromise their safety.

In response to the lack of changes in the current system, BWSS has created a Compass Card Safety Resource. BWSS is committed to provide the necessary information and resources to inform women of the potential risks the compass card system poses to their safety and how they can protect themselves while using this system.

Today at 5:30pm Battered Women’s Support Services will be at Broadway and Commercial skytrain station handing out this vital resource.

Compass Card Safety Resource

Links

Womens group concerned with Compass Card tracking

Vancouver transit’s Compass card system poses privacy concerns

Privacy concerns raised over new Compass Card system

Privacy concerns raised over TransLink’s new fare card

BC Civil Liberties Association raises privacy concerns over Compass Card travel history tracking

Civil libertarians fear Compass cards put passengers’ privacy at risk

Download the resource here

Media inquiries

Angela Marie MacDougall, Executive Director, Battered Women’s Support Services

E-mail: director@bwss.org