Ending Violence Blog

Yesterday, we lost Virginnia Giuffre — a woman who refused to be erased. Her death is a tragedy not only of one life lost, but of a world still unwilling to protect those it exploits. Virginnia stood against a machinery of misogynist violence — a world where the...

Post-separation can often be an especially difficult and dangerous time, as abusive partners may continue and even escalate their efforts to exert power through manipulation, intimidation, or harassment. If you are facing this situation, we have prepared a few strategies to support the safety and well-being of you and your children. 

Recognizing these tactics is crucial for safety, healing, and seeking support. Below are some of the most common forms of post-separation abuse—and what you can do about them. 

It’s often challenging for many people to understand why a survivor choose to stay in the relationship or would even consider returning to their abusive partner after taking action to escape and leave.

Post-separation abuse is the continuation of power and control tactics by an abusive partner after the relationship has ended. It’s a dangerous and often misunderstood phase in the cycle of abuse.

She walked away from the abuse. He didn’t stop. In partnership with our social enterprise, My Sister’s Closet, this campaign uses fashion to make visible what’s often hidden: post-separation abuse. It’s happening in plain sight. It’s happening to someone in your neighbourhood.

BWSS and My Sister’s Closet (MSC) are taking part in Fashion Revolution Week to spotlight the deep connections between fashion, justice, safety and the environment. The fashion industry too often thrives on the exploitation of women and the planet, reflecting the same systems that enable gender-based violence.

When we say that survivors of domestic violence don’t just leave — they escape — this is what we mean.  

As Canada marks Violence Against Women Prevention Week (April 20–April 26) and Fashion Revolution Week (April 22–April 27), a bold new campaign is calling attention to the threads that tie together the global fashion industry and the epidemic of gender-based violence.

April 16 marks Equal Pay Day in Canada—the symbolic date that shows how far into 2025 women must work to earn what men made by the end of 2024. For women, girls, and gender-diverse people across British Columbia, this day is more than symbolic. It’s a reminder that...

For women leaving intimate partner and domestic violence, the legal system in Canada is often not a pathway to justice, but another source of trauma. Despite decades of feminist advocacy and efforts to reform the law, Canada’s legal systems continue to reflect colonial and patriarchal foundations,
failing to meet the complex needs of women experiencing gender-based violence.