National Victims of Crime Awareness Week 2012

Moving ForwardApril 23, 2012

g

Where are we today? y• Over 50% of women in BC have experience physical or

sexual violence since the age of 16sexual violence since the age of 16

• In BC, every week there are over 1000 physical or sexual y p yassaults committed against women

1 in 3 women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime• 1 in 3 women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime

• Only 8% of sexual assaults are reported to the policeOnly 8% of sexual assaults are reported to the police

Where are we today?, cont.y ,• Over a quarter (29%) of women have been assaulted by

a spousea spouse

• As of 2010, there were 582 reports of missing or s o 0 0, e e e e 58 epo s o ss g omurdered Aboriginal women in Canada, with BC recording more victims that any other province

• Women are more likely than men to be victims of spousal assault, and much more likely to be the victims f d ti i lof severe domestic violence

Anti-Violence Activism• Traditionally been considered a “women’s issue”

• Women have historically done the majority of organizing, i d d i f i i f i isupporting and advocating for victims of intimate partner

violence and sexual assault

• Recently, activists and scholars are stressing men’s role and the social understanding of masculinityand the social understanding of masculinity

The Be More Than a Bystander I iti tiInitiative

• Making violence against women a men’s issue• Making violence against women a men s issue

• 2 year initiative

• Provide tools, language, and practical ideas to speak up against violence and abusespeak up against violence and abuse

The Be More Than a Bystander Initiative contInitiative, cont.

• Guided by an advisory group of women who areGuided by an advisory group of women who are experts in the field

• Funding partners include Status of Women Canada, BC Ministry of Children and Family Development Encana Corporation municipalDevelopment, Encana Corporation, municipal partners the City of Vancouver and City of Surrey, the University of British Columbia, andSurrey, the University of British Columbia, and media partner Global TV (media partner)

The Be More Than a Bystander Initiative contInitiative cont.

Four overarching components of the project:Four overarching components of the project:

1. School-based workshops facilitated by BC Lions players

2. Training amateur football coaches

3. Public Service Announcements (PSAs)

4 Fil d i ’ id di t d t th4. Film and viewer’s guide directed at youth.

Be More Than a Bystander PSAs

What does it mean to Be More Th B t d ?Than a Bystander?

• Proactive way to address violence against womeny g

• Empowering the individual to change the culture d t f hand act for change

C ti f i t ti• Continuum of intervention

• Safety as the most important concern• Safety as the most important concern

Ways to Be More Than a Bystandery y• Verbal

• Non verbal• Non-verbal

• If you know the person

• If you do not know the person

SLAPSHOT SCENARIOYou’re in the hallway between classes. You see a couple you know arguing then you see the guycouple you know arguing, then you see the guy push his girlfriend into her locker. The guy isn’t a close friend of yours, and neither is the youngclose friend of yours, and neither is the young woman, but you do hang around with the same group of people. Nobody else is doing anything.g p p p y g y g

OPTIONS• Nothing, it’s none of my business• Attempt to distract the couple somehow maybe by talking loudly in order to

OPTIONSAttempt to distract the couple somehow, maybe by talking loudly, in order to defuse the situation

• Shout out something so that everyone in the hallway hears, like “Hey, what are you doing? Leave her alone!” and stick around to make sure the situation has “cooled down”cooled down

• Talk to the girl at some point and let her know I saw what was going on and am willing to help her

• Do nothing immediately, but as soon as possible, make a point of talking to the d ti h t li t d l ith hi b i b h iguy and suggesting he get some counseling to deal with his abusive behavior

• Talk to my parents, a guidance counselor, the school social worker, a teacher, or the school nurse, and ask their advice on what to do.

• Other optionsp

ResourcesEnding Violence Association of BChtt // di i lhttp://www.endingviolence.org

10 Thing Men Can Do to Prevent Gender Violence10 Thing Men Can Do to Prevent Gender Violencehttp://www.jacksonkatz.com/wmcd.html

William & Mary Sexual Assault Resources and Educationhttp://web wm edu/sexualassault/?svr=wwwhttp://web.wm.edu/sexualassault/?svr www

ContactsTracy Porteous Jamie TarasExecutive DirectorEnding Violence Association of

Director of Community RelationsBC Lions

BC

604-633-2506 ext. 15porteous@endingviolence.org

604-930-5467jtaras@bclions.comj @