Prevention of Violence Against Women Week 2015

#BecauseYouCan

Battered Women’s Support Services (BWSS) is committed to taking action and preventing violence against women. Each year we commemorate Prevention of Violence Against Women Week held during the third week of April. This year, during Prevention of Violence Against Women Week (April 12-19 2015), BWSS features the following events:

You Could Do Something to End Violence Against Women – Bus Shelter Ads

Violence against women in intimate relationships is a learned behaviour so BWSS has launched an awareness campaign drawing attention on the effects witnessing abuse has on children. You Could Do Something To Prevent Violence Against Women bus shelter ads are positioned around the Vancouver, BC. People are invited to share photos of the ads through social media with the hashtag #BecauseYouCan.

(Download the poster here.)

Posted with the support of the City of Vancouver.

YOUth Ending Violence Volunteer Training Program

Youth are powerful agents for change and BWSS successful Youth Ending Violence trains young women and young men to facilitate workshops on dating and sexual violence prevention. BWSS Youth facilitators learn differences between healthy and abusive relationships, dynamics of abuse, learn where and how to obtain help, understand the impact of media and social media on youth in dating relationships and how to be an empowered bystander. BWSS Youth Ending Violence program reaches 2,000 youth annually.

Boys Will be Boys: Fighting Sexism in Media and Journalism

Saturday, April 11, 2015

The Jian Ghomeshi scandal shocked the country, but maybe we needed to be shocked. Despite all the gains made over decades for women’s rights and gender equality, even our trusted public broadcaster had failed us.

Newsrooms have long been a man’s world, and while women are occupying positions as journalists, editors, producers, and broadcasters more than ever before, it’s clear that sexism, sexual harassment, and even sexual assault remains a problem in the industry. Whereas women remained silent for years, fearing they’d lose their jobs and ruin their careers if they spoke out about the misogyny they experienced working in media, they are finally beginning to speak out, buoyed by the courage and righteous anger of their female colleagues.

This panel features four prominent and courageous women who are experts on the issue of gender discrimination, violence against women, and sexism in the media. They will address the history of this insidious problem, the current climate, and the real-life impact of sweeping sexist practices and behaviour under the rug.

This is a conversation Canada needs to have. Join us.

Speakers:

Angela Marie MacDougall

Meghan Murphy

Laura Robinson

When: Saturday, Apr 11, 2015, 2–4 p.m.

Where: Room 7000, SFU Vancouver (Harbour Centre)

Admission: Free and open to all adults, but please Register.

Creative Cafe Day – #BecauseYouCan Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls

At My Sister’s Closet located at 1092 Seymour Street (at Helmcken) in Downtown, Vancouver

April 15, 2015 from 12 pm to 6 pm

Community sharing their talents all to support ending violence.

Live Music

Sidewalk Art

Face Painting

Local Women Artisan Creations Featured

Tarot Card Readings

Spirit Bear coffee and tea

#BecauseYouCan Blog

Once again, we have convened a few serious feminist writers to contribute to our blog Ending Violence this year featuring violence prevention along with an old concept with a new name “A First Responder”. Ending Violence Blog is at www.bwss.org/endingviolence