In the run-up to the 16 days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, BWSS is drawing attention to the need for better survivor support by bringing a startling statistic to life across Vancouver.

BWSS has been sparking conversations across the city with a poster of a woman who has reported non-spousal sexual assault, followed by nineteen additional posters featuring silhouetted women. The unique poster assembly is supported by the copy, “Behind every woman who reports a non-spousal sexual assault are nineteen women don’t.”

According to Statistics Canada, of all sexual assault incidents perpetrated by someone other than a spouse, one in twenty was reported to the police, compared to one in three incidents of other types of crime measured by the General Social Survey on Victimization.

“Using posters to illustrate this startling fact was a simple way to talk about a serious subject,” says Angela Marie MacDougall, Executive Director at Battered Women’s Support Services. “This was our way of getting people to think critically about violence against women and to enable survivors to know that there are avenues for them to access support, outside of the justice system, and that we’re a place for healing and we advocate for those who have experienced trauma or harassment.”

The posters have been put up around Vancouver and run just in time to support BWSS’ 40th anniversary, taking place during this year’s 16 Days of Activism.

We hope the poster campaign will spark conversations about women’s equality and encourage people to take action to end violence against women.

Join BWSS at The Orpheum Theatre on November 25, 2019, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women for a carefully assembled program featuring Tarana Burke, the Founder of the ‘Me Too’ Movement and advocate for survivors of sexual violence.