Bits and Bytes

Excerpt from the Director of Programs and Services Annual Report to the Membership 2000

In our 15^th year of operation, the Assaulted Women’s Helpline continues to provide an exceptional service to women. In the face of funding cuts, conservatism and backlash - the Helpline remains strong and prepared for the new century. Our commitment to women and community has never been stronger.

Three years ago in the 1997/1998 Annual Report to the membership I suggested that we were currently in the era of “more with less”. On the dawn of the year two thousand I re-iterate that sentiment. Women are still being deprived of the most basic human right – safety. With further erosion of the social safety net, increased gaps in services, and barriers to accessing support, women are at more risk than ever. The summer of 2000 has been a horrendous one for women in Ontario. We reel at the deaths of women and children, with the haunting reality that there is little relief in sight. The despair witnessed by crisis counsellors on the line resonates to the very fibre of our humanity. Hollow announcements and Band-Aid solutions provide us little comfort.

A component of the agencies mandate is to identify gaps in service and response to assaulted/abused women. Our crisis line statistics tell a very clear tale of what women need. The countless horror stories paint a very clear picture. Women need access to emergency services, including second stage housing and shelters. During the summer of 2000 for almost two weeks there were no available shelter beds for women fleeing violence in the City of Toronto. Women need access to community and neighbourhood services and supports, including accessible and affordable childcare services, ethno-specific services, women centres and violence against women specific services available to them through settlement agencies. Legal supports are also a critical area of concern. Mandatory risk assessments and stronger Bail limitations. One bail breach must mean incarceration for an abuser. Legal aid certificates and hours must be extended. Women need access to affordable counselling and appropriate mental health services. Childhood sexual abuse survivors and women who have experienced sexual assault have indicated a need for a short-term safe house facility. Finally, and most importantly, the 21% cut to welfare rates must be restored.

As a service, our areas of priority are strongly directed by the current identified needs of women who use our service. As women and community inform us of our priorities, the Helpline then responds by trying to incorporate, diversify, expand or include where appropriate. Our strength as an agency lies in the ability to work with community and other stakeholders, most importantly our callers.

Important to Remember!

When you are writing about the issue of violence against women it is critically important to also provide resource numbers for women who may want to reach out for help or support. Be sure to include the toll-free AWHL phone number and other appropriate local resources and supports in your piece.

Speak to an expert! Contact your local violence against women service (shelter, rape crisis centre, women’s centre, AWHL) and discuss your piece. You can also contact provincial agencies and associations such as:
OAITH (Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses), OCRCC (Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres), Education Wife Assault, DAWN (The DisAbled Women’s Network), AOCVF (Action ontarienne contre la violence faite aux femmes), ONWA (Ontario Native Women’s Association, or OCASI (Ontario Coalition of Agencies Serving Immigrants).

Frontline women’s advocates are experts on the issue of violence against women and can give you a real “snapshot” of what is happening in your community in regards to violence against women. They can also provide an analysis of the issue of violence against women, which is intrinsic to writing an accurate and balanced piece. Frontline women’s advocates have been doing this work for over 30 years. If you are not sure how to contact advocates in your community please call the Director of Programs and Services at the Assaulted Women’s Helpline administration office and we can put you in touch with an expert in your community.

Violence against women is a complex and pervasive systemic issue, with multiple layers and differential impacts on different communities of women.

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