Our program provides women living in Greater Vancouver a safe place for grouping: to break the silence and isolation around the violence committed against them, to offer and receive emotional support, to plan and strategize their responses to men's violence. Grouping together after leaving an abusive man, after exiting prostitution, or after being raped is an act of resistance against the abusers' tactic of silencing and isolating women.
When we call on behalf of women trying to access detox services, we are told that the waitlist to get a detox bed is 4 days long and wait times for residential treatment centres are routinely between 4-12 weeks. As detox is a prerequisite to get into a residential treatment centre, calling for space represents the first of many steps that a woman seeking support for addiction must take.Â
With Diane Redsky, Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata, Pragna Patel, South Hall Black Sisters, UK, Jennie-Laure Sully, la Concertation des luttes contre l’exploitation sexuelle (la CLES), Megan Walker, London Abused Women’s Centre and Hilla Kerner, Vancouver Rape Relief and Women’s Shelter
With Ingeborg Kraus, German Psychotraumatologist against Prostitution, Germany, Alisa Bernard, Organization for Prostitution Survivors (OPS), Seattle, USA, Ghada Jabbour, KAFA, Lebanon and Diane Matte, la Concertation des luttes contre l’exploitation sexuelle (la CLES), Quebec, Canada
With Jean Enriquez, Coalition Against Trafficking of Women, Philippines, Ally-Mari Diamond, Wahine Toa Rising, Aotearoa/New Zealand, Tegan Larin, Coalition Against Trafficking of Women, Australia and Hilla Kerner, Vancouver Rape Relief and Women’s Shelter, Canada
COVID-19 did not create the struggles women are currently facing, but highlighted and exasperated their existing struggles. On this episode, 3 feminists groups share the barriers women faced during the pandemic, from the perspective of women in prison, women working in the domestic and caregiving field, as well as women escaping male violence.
This episode features:
- Julie Diesta and Lotis Caluza from the Vancouver Committee for Domestic Workers' and Caregivers' Rights
- Alia Perini and Candice Pilgrim from Strength in Sisterhood (Advocates for incarcerated women)
- Sonam Khangura and Hilla Kerner from Vancouver Rape Relief and Women's Shelter
