Gender-based violence is one of the most pervasive, deadly, and deeply rooted human rights violations of our time. Prevention and support services are essential to respond to the needs of Canadians, as gender equality cannot be achieved without addressing this critical issue.
Today, the Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence and Member of Parliament for Oakville, on behalf of the Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, met with representatives of Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Services (SAVIS) of Halton to highlight the progress of their project, Trauma and Cultural Informed Crisis Line Survivors.
SAVIS of Halton is providing robust services, resources, and supports serving the urgent needs of those experiencing gender-based violence.
Through their project, they are engaging with Indigenous and 2SLGBTQI+ victims and survivors of gender-based violence, which ensures trauma- and culturally-informed programming. This project received almost $110,000 from Women's and Gender Equality Canada in December 2022.
The funding has allowed SAVIS of Halton to hire a crisis-line coordinator for the first time and to update the training curriculum for their crisis-line volunteers, which is now aligned with best-practices and includes a trauma-informed perspective. This curriculum was developed following an extensive intersectional consultation with those who are traditionally marginalized and under-represented in decisions, in particular the 2SLGBTQI+ and Indigenous communities. They are currently piloting the revised material.
As a further project outcome, SAVIS of Halton has worked with two of their main partners - Nina's Place and Victim Services - to develop a video for those who have experienced sexual violence, showing how the three services, medical, legal and crisis counselling support, work together to provide wrap-around care. It is due to be released at the end of May.
SAVIS of Halton will be sharing their learnings with the gender-based violence sector to help strengthen supports to Indigenous and 2SLGBTQI+ gender-based violence survivors and their families across Canada.
