Cross-Sectoral Violence Against Women Strategy Group (CSVAWSG)

1. Cross-Sectoral Violence Against Women Strategy Group (CSVAWSG) LE COMITÉ RÉGIONAL DECOORDINATION POUR CONTRER LAVIOLENCE FAITE AUX FEMMES REGIONAL COORDINATING COMMITTEE TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN Wednesday June 2, 2004

2. Cross-sectoral Violence Against Women Strategy Group • Who we are • Mandate

3. Key Objectives • To advocate for policy provincially • Bring in a broad range of sectors • Build a province-wide, cross-sectoral network • Re-politicize the issue • Challenge trends in policy directions

4. Key Objectives (continued) • Further an integrated analysis • Proposals for action and policy reform • Develop strategies for women with multiple exclusions • Work on prevention, i.e.welfare reform, housing, legal supports, etc..

5. History of the Cross-Sectoral Violence Against Women Strategy Group • Women’s groups came together - Fall 2000 – Who came? • Cross-sectoral • Writing of Emergency Measures document

6. History of the Cross-Sectoral Violence Against Women Strategy Group(continued) • 2001 – group more sporadic • Status of Women grant March of 2003 – received • One Pre-election event • After the election – lobby the party in power & opposition • Emergency Measures & Beyond document • Large Group Meetings - every 3 months • Steering Meetings - monthly in Toronto

7. Key components of CSVAWSG • Central theme of CSVAWSG - the need to refocus • VAW policy and funding/resources to social supports for women and women's services • Law and order response does not work – • Law and order response is not based on a gender/race/anti-oppression analysis • Theme for election actions – making the issues clear

8. Emergency Measures “Strengthening women’s economic and social position “

9. Emergency Measures (con’t) • Community Based Service for Women • and Children • Emergency Services • Community & Neighbourhood Supports • Legal Reforms & Services • Legal Aid • Criminal Law Reforms • Family Law Reforms

10. Emergency Measures (con’t) • Economic Survival & Workplace Safety • Economic Survival • Workplace Protection

11. History of the Cross-Sectoral Violence Against Women Strategy Group(cont’d) • Comprehensive cross-sectoral strategy at the provincial level • Campaign Launch • Lobby work with the appropriate government people • Campaign was successful

12. Provincial election activities • Organize media event(s) • Produce a communication – Press release • Get out there – become visible • Call leaders to debate issues

13. Pre-Election Actions • One page with visual • Press Release to main media • Press release for everyone’s use • Main media events • OAITH plan • Michelle Lansberg article • Media Hits • Follow Eves

14. After the Election • Large group meeting – Nov.18 2003 • Examine Liberal appointments • Outreach Planning for Nov.18th • Issue of Steering Committee Membership • Interim Report – SAW • Collectively write Emergency Measures & Beyond document

15. Emergency Measures & Beyond Recommendations in the 14 areas: • Emergency Services • Legal Reforms & Services • Women with Disabilities and Deaf women • Aboriginal Women • Immigrant Refugee& Women of Colour • Francophone Women • Rural Women & Northern Women • Anti-poverty and Income Security • Housing • Labour & Workplace • Childcare • Health • Re-structuring of Provinces’ Women’s Services

16. Emergency Services • Allocate 15 million in annualized funds to women’s shelters • Funding to communities urgently needing shelter beds • Allocate $3,360,000 in annualized funds to Second Stage Housing • Funding to community women’s groups

17. Legal Reforms & Services • Increased family legal aid to separation and divorce • Language interpretation supports • Criminal Law Reforms – Hadley re. bail & May Inquests as per the Charter

18. Women with Disabilities & Deaf women • Accessible affordable housing • Disability related government programs need VAW training • Income supports: increase levels; reflect indexed cost of living; not linked to spousal income; medical coverage separated from income • 24 hour accessible transportation • Accessible shelters and 2nd stage housing

19. Aboriginal Women • Increase funding to Aboriginal women shelters • Fund ‘safe houses’ on reserve • Increased support services to Aboriginal women in all communities • Services in aboriginal languages • Decrease CAS intervention

20. Immigrant Refugee& Women of Colour • Fund VAW training for settlement and other immigrant programs • VAW agencies need to provide culturally sensitive programs • Fund Immigrant settlement agencies for cultural interpreters services • Culturally sensitive info on VAW services • Understanding systemic discrimination, immigration policies, and ethnic community issues and their relationship to leaving an abusive situation

21. Francophone Women Same service needs as all women, however access to French services still problem: • Catch-up for lost access to French language services • Budget increase for regional crisis lines • Increase services in the north-west, including funding for immigrant women and new sexual assault centre in Prescott-Russell • Recognition of needs in consultations and communications

22. Rural Women • Immediate access to affordable housing • Review application process for sensitivity • Improve access to health care by increasing nurse practitioners • Develop inclusive health care services

23. Northern women • Provide accessible affordable housing • Access to health care services • Develop inclusive Health facilities

24. Anti-poverty & Income Security • Implement annual cost of living adjustment to welfare rates • Increase housing subsidies • More affordable housing • Realistic shelter allowances for women on social assistance • Remove income claw backs for OW and NCBS • Allow women to access multiple provincial services

25. Housing • Low rise mixed income developments • Design features for children • Accessible disabled units • 1% solution • Increase affordable rental stock as per Golden Report • Fund supports that sustain housing • Recommendations as per Hadley

26. Labour & Workplace • Employment Standards Act provisions; Job protection for compassionate leave • Provisions that guarantee the right to workplace accommodation for court leave, finding housing, childcare, and to heal • Pay Equity with a 1% adjustmentto ensure survival of women’s agencies

27. Childcare • Universal, regulated ELC system • Detailed policy framework with action plan • Plan should be ready April 2005 • Move towards a national child care program • Provide immediate crisis control

28. Health • Recognition of violence as a public health issue • Link health dollars to community-based organizations providing VAW services • Recognize the impact of VAW on health care workers • Hospital accreditation standards should include sensitivity to issues of VAW • Routine universal screening

29. Re-structuring of Provincial Government Women’s Services • Victims Justice Fund (VJF) available to, community-based services • Government’s VAW strategy ensure that there is sustainable funding designated to implement VAW reforms. • The lead within the government - Ontario Women’s Directorate (OWD) • OWD must ensure that other Ministries adhere to an equality-based analysis

30. From RCCEVAW’s perspective..What should CSVAWSG be doing?

31. Merci! Thank you !