Issue 2014-2 1404-510 West Hastings Street, Vancouver BC V6B 1L8 Tel 604.633.2506 Fax 604.633.2507 www.endingviolence.org

ATF 2014: INCREASING SAFETY FOR WOMEN EXPERIENCING SEXUAL AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

On November 6-7, 2014, EVA BC will welcome front - zation in the U.S. to focus on vio lence against South line anti-violence workers from communities across Asian immigrant women; Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond is BC to our Annual Training Forum. Three distin - British Columbia’s highly regarded Representative guished keynote speakers from Canada and the for Children and Youth; and Bonnie Brayton has United States will be sharing their expertise to help been the National Executive Director of DAWN- us effectively frame the many complexities involved RAFH Canada since establishing a National Head in responding to the needs of women who have Office in Montreal in May 2007. Please read on to experienced violence: Shamita Das Dasgupta is a get a taste of what you may expect to hear from this co-founder of Manavi (New Jersey), the first organi - year’s keynote speakers. continued page 3

Keynote speakers (l-r): Shamita Das Dasgupta, Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond and Bonnie Brayton.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Understanding Sexual Assault as a Serial Offence ...... p. 9 EVA BC Updates ...... p. 13 Responding to Suicidal Thoughts in Young Clients ...... p. 15 EVA BC NEWSLETTER / FALL 2014

Ending Violence Association Message from the Executive Director of British Columbia (EVA BC) Welcome to this edition of the EVA BC newsletter featuring highlights 1404-510 West Hastings Street from the three distinguished keynote speakers who will be presenting at Vancouver, BC V6B 1L8 this year’s training forum, Increasing Safety for Women Experiencing Sexual Phone: 604-633-2506 and Domestic Violence. Fax: 604-633-2507 Toll-free (members only): As always, we are thrilled to have this opportunity to share with you some 1-877-633-2505 of the wisdom and research of our keynotes in our feature article. [email protected] Contributions from Shamita Das Dasgupta, Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond www.endingviolence.org and Bonnie Brayton are all here, reflecting their respective areas of expert ise in working with immigrant women impacted by violence, the impacts of Editor violence on children who witness and how disabled women as a popula tion Nancy Boyce are disproportionately impacted by violence. We are also happy to share an excellent article by one of this year’s work - Layout and Design shop presenters, Laura Hamilton, on responding to suicidal youth within Britt Permien a framework of hope rather than fear, as well as an article by EVA BC’s Research & Projects Manager, Joanne Baker, that discusses understanding sexual assault as a serial offence and the implications that framework could Contributors EVA BC and CCWS staff, have in the investigation and conviction of those crimes. Sarah Bolton, Bonnie Brayton, As always, there is news from member programs around BC and an Nicki Breuer, Shamita Das Dasgupta, update on everything we’ve been doing here at EVA BC – that includes Lynda Dechief, Laura Hamilton, information about the new Forced Marriages Project we are working on in Brooke McClardy, Nell-Ann Toegel, partnership with MOSAIC, the Indigenous Communities Safety Project, Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond and Be More Than a Bystander, and much more. Legal Services Society. I hope you find this year’s Forum both useful and inspirational and yo ur experiences here will be part of what sustains you throughout the year in This newsletter is published two times per the incredible work you all do to support women impacted by sexual and year and provided free of charge to EVA BC domestic violence. members. The views expressed by newsletter contributors do not necessarily reflect those of With respect, the EVA BC Board and/or staff. Submit your Tracy Porteous ideas, articles and photos for future newslet ters to [email protected]. EVA BC core services are supported by the Ministry of Justice and the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority. Charitable # 13926 5821 RR0001

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ATF 2014: INCREASING SAFETY FOR WOMEN EXPERIENCING SEXUAL AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE continued from page 1

HOW DOES ONE MAKE IT? SEEKING essen tial needs including mental health related. As a conse - SAFETY FOR WOMEN quence, advocates’ and interveners’ work becomes confined BY SHAMITA DAS DASGUPTA to crisis intervention . Although many advocates recognize that tending to a victim’s immediate needs will not keep her Interventions in violence against women are centered on the safe over time, the sheer volume of incoming cases hardly objective and practice of creating safety for women who permits us to go beyond the here and now. Facilitating a have experienced violence in their lives. Safety planning is victim’s move towards permanent safety requires an extreme nearly always the focal point in all advocacy and systems amount of time, thinking, and energy, resources that change efforts. Yet, we have only begun to recognize that advo cates, who can barely make the jump from crisis to safety cannot be arranged formulaically. What might appear cri sis, lack badly. To complicate matters, funders customar ily to be definite safety—such as a woman leaving an abuser— consider numbers to be an indicator of success of our work may not translate to actual safety for all victims. In fact, we and, by extension, their funding decisions. The higher now know that the period around separation from the number of victims we work with, the greater our the abuser may be the most hazardous time for some accomplishments. Thus, the institutions of funding also battered women. 1 funnel our work towards crisis intervention and not spend A poor woman in India who lived in a shantytown once time helping one woman achieve long-term safety. taught me an important lesson about safety. This woman Separating a battered woman from her abuser is frequently supported her entire family on a meager maid’s income. Her considered the key strategy in intervention because we partner was unemployed, contributed little to the family, and believe that separation instantaneously stops the violence she beat her up almost every day. She was smart, courageous, experiences. Naturally, it limits the batterer’s access to her. and resourceful; yet, chose to stay with her abuser. When We sometimes involve the state systems in order to make I encouraged her to leave the relationship and promised quick changes in the woman’s life by removing and/or her my support during the process, she remarked that at pun ishing the abuser, which is generally equated to her safe ty. least in her current relationship she was safe because only While the abuse stops immediately and the woman is safer one man was abusing her. If she left him and became an when the police remove a batterer from his home, her safety unaccompanied woman on the streets, she would become an may be quite temporary and brief. This woman’s action of open target to many. Then, how would she achieve safety for calling the police may instigate violence from a variety of the rest of her life? other forces in her life. For example, her community (that has This wise woman helped me realize that safety has different been experiencing immigration raids and police brutality) meanings, both emotional and practical, for women in may turn on her; she may fall victim to violence from the different social positions by virtue of her race, class, ability, bat terer’s family (or even her own) for compromising family sexuality, residency status, etc. These factors unavoidably honor; she may face deportation as her undocumented status interact with each other to influence the circumstances of is revealed; and her clergy may excommunicate her for safety in a battered woman’s life. Just as acts of violence decid ing to separate. against women do not occur in a vacuum, safety without a context is a myth. Limitations of Conventional Safety Planning Understandably, concern for victim safety often leads inter - Managing risks for a battered woman and protecting her veners to focus narrowly on imminent physical danger. In might save her from being hurt, but it will not encourage an most cases, we urgently want to protect the victim from seri - atmosphere in which she can grow freely and have viable ous injuries, find her food and shelter, and take care of her choices. A more holistic concept of safety encompasses not

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only the battered woman, but also her children, family, pets, growth needs that culminate in self-actualization, a level at neighbors, and friends—concentric circles of relationships which an individual thinks beyond fulfilling mere deficits that surround and nourish her. In contrast to protection, and progresses towards realizing his/her human potential. safety in its truest form is not dependent on the actions of The deficit needs are immediate, one-dimensional, and other individuals, advocacy agencies, state systems, or short-term while the growth needs are complex, multi- sym pathetic relatives. It is under the control of the battered dimensional, and long-term. and sexually violated woman and allows her autonomy and Frequently, intervention strategies with battered and sexual ly energy for intellectual, psychological, and spiritual develop ment. abused women at the institutional level are constructed to Being safe carries a much greater significance than deal with their deficit needs. As interveners, we may believe being protected. that our task is to make sure that a battered woman is Although practitioners in the area of domestic and sexual phys ically safe and secure right now. However, in addition to violence work toward creating safety for victims, they do not bodily integrity, a woman may want to be cherished by her necessarily agree on the best way to keep a woman and her family, respected by the community, become a productive children safe. Not only do their points of view diverge from member of society, and have an opportunity to live with dig nity each other but their opinions might also differ sharply from and honor. In our endeavors to attain security, meeting the the victim’s. Frequently, intervention workers approach deficit needs of battered women plays a much larger role than women’s safety from their own singular perspectives that fulfilling growth needs. However, we must ask ourselves: emerge from the organization of their work. For instance, a Which one brings lasting safety to battered women? police officer might view safety as achieved when a battered woman calls 911, an immigration attorney might believe a Expanding the Perspective on Women’s Safety battered woman’s safety lies in securing permanent Although difficult, establishing truly comprehensive and resi dency, a prosecutor might see vigorous prosecution of sustainable safety for women is an attainable ambition. the abuser as yielding the greatest safety, and an advocate However, it does necessitate a paradigm shift on our part. might view safety as achieved when the woman decides to While we need not reject the notion of immediate physical leave her abusive partner. Contrary to these options, a safety of battered women, we must expand it to include woman might believe that her safety can only be secured other dimensions that lead to reliable and enduring safety. when she learns to drive; gets a job; and her in-laws, It might be helpful for practitioners and advocates to explore reli gious leaders of her community, and her parents collabo rate and extend the concept of safety along the following to make her abusive husband sign a “peace bond.” These dimen sions: (1) Temporality, (2) Totality, (3) Collectivity, choices, extremely meaningful to the battered woman, may and (4) Stability. Effective safety planning must incorporate seem inadequate, if not futile, to other interveners. the above dimensions in such a way that a woman is able to Abraham Maslow proposed a hierarchical pyramid of needs not only secure immediate safety but also maintain that safe ty with five rungs. From the lowest to the highest—or the base over time and situations. of the pyramid to the top—these are: (1) Physiological needs (e.g., freedom from hunger, thirst, physical pain), (2) Dimensions of Safety Safety and security needs (e.g., freedom from persecution, 1. Temporalit: Immediate, Short & Long-term intimidation, threats, fear), (3) Love and belonging needs If a woman refuses to leave her abuser, we have had few (e.g., establishing positive affectionate relationships, stability options to offer her and even fewer resources to mobilize in of emotions), (4) Esteem needs (e.g., establishing respect in her aid. Indeed, in terms of safety, what can we really do when self and from others, social acceptance and regard), and (5) a woman continues to live with her abusive partner? Clearly, Self-actualization (e.g., nurturing self-development, creativ ity, it is important that we reserve resources specifically for growth). The lower-order needs are associated with the body women who decide to remain in their abusive relationships, of the organism and are based on deficits . When deprived, regardless of their reasons. We might use those resources, human beings concentrate on satisfying these physical with the woman’s permission, to alert her neigh bors, family needs and are unable to progress towards the higher-order mem bers, and religious leaders to keep an eye on her; engage psychological needs. The psychological needs are also called

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communi ty elders in warning the abuser to end violence; and view of safety concentrates mainly on bodily integrity. As develop a safety plan that might entail something as simple as discussed earlier, although ending physical vulnerability is staying at a sister’s home when tension in her home builds; fundamental to safety, it does not affect the totality of and turning a specific light on or making a telephone call at a women’s experiences of abuse. While it is true that physical pre-arranged time to indicate crisis/safety. mistreatment is the most visible and has the potential of To move from immediate to short-term safety may mean causing disfigurement and death, battered women often finding income, housing, health-care, and education for a speak of psychological, emotional, economic, and spiritual battered woman and her children. It might entail teaching violence as even more insidious and damaging. Abuse shat ters the woman how to drive, speak English, send letters home, a victim’s body along with her mind, spirit, and emotions. A and connect her to a group of friends. Each of these oppor - focus on comprehensive safety would involve a consideration tunities may ultimately empower women to find safety in of physical safety but also the psychological, emotional, their own terms. eco nomic, and spiritual integrity of women. Beyond immediate and short-term safety is long-term Comprehensive safety may entail acknowledgement of a secu rity. Long-term safety can only be ensured through woman’s experiences of violence by community, church, fam ily, broader social changes in laws, institutional policies and and friends. A common dynamic of domestic violence is practices, community attitudes and actions, and through the iso lation of the victim, a loss of her connections to resources mobilization of caring people. 2 Long-term safety takes into that sustain her emotionally and spiritually, and humiliation account not just how dangerous an individual batterer is of her as a person. To counteract the breakdown of self that (immediate safety) and the material circumstances of an battering has triggered, important entities in a victim’s life individual woman’s life (short-term safety), it takes into must not only validate her experiences, but also actively come con sideration how a woman’s social condition affects her forward to support her. vul nerability to men’s violence. Examples of such conditions 3. Collectivity: Individual & Others are her immigration status, relationship to her religion, abil ity, Advocates and practitioners make the first commitment of class, and race status in society, etc. safety to individual battered women, the primary victims of To preserve safety over a length of time, we have to involve a battering. However, battered women themselves are often battered woman’s community. The community agencies, insti - equally, if not more, concerned about the safety of their chil dren tutions, and systems that surround a woman either centralize and others . Although safekeeping of children is vital, it is not or marginalize her safety. An evaluation of how institutions without controversy. and agencies are organized and prepared to respond to domes - Women often consider children to be extensions of their tic violence would indicate to us how a battered woman would selves and fiercely protect them. Many mothers around the fare in the long run. Consider, for example, a battered woman world routinely sacrifice their own safety to prevent their who works for a local industry. Our advocacy efforts can facil itate children from being hurt. Battered women are also fre - this company deciding to articulate a clear “no tolerance of quently worried about the safety of many others: immediate domestic violence” philosophy, provide strong security for family members, pets, friends, and neighbors. Thus, when vic tims inside and outside the workplace, and establish a designing a safety plan for a battered woman and her vio lence against women related education and resource center chil dren, it is imperative that advocates and practitioners on the premises. The company might even go one step further keep in sight the security of other loved ones. and institute policies to hold accountable employees who bat ter. Indisputably, such proactive actions would help make all 4. Stability: Transitory & Sustainable employees safe, but would also stimulate changes in the larger In crisis intervention, often the safety that we achieve is community to make the condition of all women safer. transitory . Since advocates and practitioners facilitate this safety, it may be dependent on them and end up being 2. Totality: Limited & Comprehensive pro visional. The goal of effective intervention must be to Safety could also be considered on the dimension of totality, transfer the control of this safety to women. A woman must which may range from limited to comprehensive. The limit ed be independently able to maintain the safety she attains at

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the time of initial intervention. Safety is sustainable only advocated for applying a child protection lens to domestic when it is under the control of the battered woman. violence, understanding the long-term impacts this violence Sustainable safety is a complex phenomenon. It makes availa ble has on young witnesses. to battered women ‘social capital’: relational, structural, and In the past several years, much has been learned about the institutional arrangements that enable individuals and impacts of witnessing violence on the development of a groups to achieve their objectives. In this case, safety that can young person’s brain. “Witnessing” can mean a number of be maintained by battered women themselves. Safety is things, from actually seeing physical/and or sexual abuse, to sust ainable only when it is long-term (the social conditions hearing threats or fighting from another room or noting the that lead to women’s vulnerability are removed), comprehens ive after effects of physical abuse, including blood, bruises, torn (involving physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual clothes, broken items and tears. Children can also be aware safety), and collective (involving the safety of significant othe rs of ongoing tension such as their mother’s reactions when an in a battered woman’s life). Ultimately, sustainable safety is abuser comes home. contingent upon the strengthening of wo men’s internal A child’s emotional well-being and sense of safety and secur ity capacity through empowerment. are splintered when violence occurs within the home. It is clearly traumatic to be a witness to violence, with long-term Conclusion consequences. There is plenty of evidence indicating that Up to now, the main problem in understanding safety has adults who experience considerable stress early in their lives been that we tend to define it in terms of what we do (i.e., have differences in brain structure when compared with protection) than what battered and sexually violated women people who experience low levels of early stress. need (i.e., sustainable safety). This discussion underscores the importance of broadening our definition of safety. And what of the children and youth themselves? Parents are Whether we are advocating for the individual or working on big figures in a child’s life. When they are endangered, then policies and practices, it is important to examine critically a child may wonder who is going to protect them. Children our working concept of safety. We need to ask ourselves: who witness domestic violence are more likely to experience Does what we do make a battered woman safe, and for how depression, anxiety, nightmares, teen dating violence, and long? Also, once we reach a semblance of safety through perform poorly at school. They are often angry at both the coll aborative intervention work, will a woman be able to abuser for the violence and at the abused parent for being sustain it after interveners withdraw? Does the safety we unable to prevent the violence. They experience such fear achieve make her feel dissatisfied because it is narrow and that they are always on guard, waiting for the next violent leaves out important others in her life? The four dimensions episode to occur, and do not feel safe in their own homes. elaborated above provide a foundation for the response. Children of abusive homes are starved for attention, Shamita Das Dasgupta is a co-founder of Manavi (New affec tion and approval. The parents are not present for their Jersey), the first organization in the U.S. to focus on violence child ren, who feel emotionally and psychologically aband oned. against South Asian immigrant women. She has been engaged As a result, studies have shown that these children in advoc acy to end violence against women for over thirty years. may experience developmental delays in speech, motor or cognitive skills.

THE IMPACTS OF VIOLENCE ON Most experts believe that children who are raised in abusive homes learn that violence is an effective way to resolve CHILDREN WHO WITNESS con flicts and problems, and that witnessing domestic BY MARY ELLEN TURPEL -L AFOND vio lence is the single best predictor of juvenile delinq Safety: a word frequently bandied about in the context of uency and adult criminality. keeping our children safe from accidental injury or online predators. Sadly, it is rarely used in the context of children Given what we know about the effects of witnessing domest ic and domestic violence. But what is the experience of young violence on children and youth, the victim-offender perspect ive people who witness domestic violence? As B.C.’s generally held in our justice system regarding incidents of Representative for Children and Youth, I have resolutely domestic violence must shift to victim safety. While this is

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not the only systemic change needed, it is the single biggest orders out against them should be considered and any other change the legal and social services system could take to pro tect innovative technological solutions. Further, ongoing and children and youth. visible police involvement – checking in – makes victims feel If we are to reach a higher level of victim safety in the con text truly supported by the system, which is imperative in of domestic violence, the focus on safety must come both small communities. before and after involvement of the legal system. In both I am disappointed that B.C. has not committed any money cases, there is a need to broaden the definition of victim to or resources to setting up domestic violence courts, which I include children, since, as we have seen, children and youth first recommended for this province in 2009. Alberta – right are victimized when they are witness to domestic violence. next door – has had nine such specialized courts working for When violent behaviours first appear, early interventions almost 20 years. Victims are better protected when they are could stop escalation of the violence, including programs for more closely connected to the courts. There is follow offenders as part of a system of services for victims and their through, resulting in victims staying in contact and seeing children. In particular, children exposed to domestic violence charges through to completion. When people work together need specialized interventions and supports that help — police, prosecution, social workers and courts – an open address their experiences of witnessing abuse. and accessible system is created, leading to change. As I recommended in two reports I released – Honouring The safety of children and youth is always forefront in my Christian Lee in 2009 and Honouring Kaitlynne, Max and decision-making. Since we now know much about the long- Cordon in 2012 — a coordinated system linking criminal term impacts of witnessing domestic violence, it is clear we law, child welfare and family justice information is essential must re-frame our thinking to see child witnesses of domes tic in domestic violence cases. In B.C., much work needs to be violence as victims and, in that context, do all we can to done in this area; however, a valuable response framework ensure their safety, both physically and mentally. that has emerged in some communities here is collaborative Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond is BC’s first Representative for Interagency Case Assessment Teams for high-risk cases, Children and Youth. She was appointed in 2006 and was bringing criminal justice, child welfare, health and antivio - re- appointed for a second five-year term in 2011. lence workers together with a goal of keeping domestic vio lence victims and their children safer. Provincial funding WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES AND is necessary to increase the number of these teams. VIOLENCE Police play a hugely important role around the issue of BY BONNIE BRAYTON domestic violence and can make a real difference to the The following excerpts are taken from DAWN Canada’s Fact out comes for children and youth affected by the violence. Sheet “Women with Disabilities and Violence”. To read the com plete For example, the delivery of protection orders is much more fact sheet and find out more about a range of issues impacting effective when delivered by police officers rather than sher iffs women with disabilities, visit www.dawncananda.net . or commissionaires. When an order is served, the person who has been threatening violence and/or engaging in Violence against women with disabilities shares common vio lence needs to see a real police officer to get the message characteristics with violence against women in general 3. that the safety system is closing around the victim. A police Women with disabilities also experience forms of abuse that officer is essentially saying, “You’re on our radar. You are not women without disabilities do not. Violence against women to have any contact and we are going to be carefully watch ing and girls with disabilities is not just a subset of gender-based this.” Follow-through is essential. violence - it is an intersectional category dealing with gen der- based and disability-based violence. The confluence of these Improving safety in cases of domestic violence also involves two factors results in an extremely high risk of violence understanding that safety plans for the victim must focus on against women with disabilities 4. the parent’s capacity to keep the children safe. Safety plan ning is challenging in remote and rural areas of this Women with disabilities experience a wider range of province. Electronic monitoring of those with protective emo tional, physical and sexual abuse: by personal attendants and by health care providers, as well as higher rates of emo -

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tional abuse both by strangers and other family mem bers 5. References They also can be prevented from using a wheelchair, cane, 1 Saunders, D. G., & Browne, A. (2000). Intimate partner homi cide. respirator, or other assistive devices 6. In R. T. Ammerman & M. Hersen (Eds.), Case studies in family There remains almost no literature regarding the risk of homicide (pp. 415-449). NY and London: Plenum Press. abuse, women’s experiences of abuse, and barriers to seeking 2 Herman, J. (1992). Trauma and recovery: The aftermath help among women with disabilities. The absence of atten tion of violence—from domestic abuse to political terror. to this issue from both disability and violence researchers NY: BasicBooks. has contributed to the ‘invisibility’ of the victimization of 3 International Network of Women with Disabilities (INWWD), women with disabilities 7. Document on Violence against Women with Disabilities, 2010, p.11. High Rates of Violence 4 Ibid ., p.7. • A DAWN-RAFH Canada study found that although 1 5 Young et al., op.cit; Nixon , J. (2009) ”Domestic violence and out 5 of all Canadian women live with a disability 8, 40% women with disabilities: locating the issue on the periphery of of respondents had experienced some form of violence in social movements”, Disability & Society , 24 (1), 77 – 89. their lives 9. 6 Brownridge, D.A. (2006) ‘’Partner violence against women with • Women and girls with disabilities are at a high risk of disabilities: prevalence, risk, and explanations’’, Violence Against expe riencing gender-based and other forms of violence Women , 12 (9), p.819. due to social stereotypes that often serve to reduce their 7 Curry, M. A., Hassouneh-Phillips, D., & Johnston-Silverberg, A. agency by infantilizing, dehumanizing and isolating them, (2001). ‘’Abuse of women with disabilities: An ecological model making them vulnerable to various forms of violence, and review’’, Violence Against Women , 7, 60-79. 10 including institutional violence . 8 Statistics Canada, Participation and Activity Limitation • In a study comparing the rates of instances of sexual and Survey (PALS), 2006. physical assault among women with and women without 9 Masuda, S. & Ridington, J. (1992), Meeting Our Needs: disabilities, it was determined that women with disabili ties An Access Manual for Transition Houses. Vancouver, British were four times more likely to have experienced a sexual Columbia: DAWN Canada. 11 assault than women without disabilities . 10 Ortoleva, Stephanie and Lewis, Hope , Forgotten Sisters-A Intimate Partner Violence: A Hidden Reality Report on Violence Against Women with Disabilities: An Overview of its Nature, Scope, Causes and Consequences • Investigators rarely assume that disabled women have (August 21, 2012). Northeastern University School of Law intimate partners, so IPV (intimate partner violence) Research Paper No. 104-2012. Available at SSRN: 12 often goes undetected . http://ssrn.com/ abstract=2133332 • Persons with disabilities were between 50% and 11 Martin, S. L., Ray, N., Sotres-Alvarez, D., Kupper, L. L., 100% more likely than those without disabilities to have Moracco, K.E., Dickens, P. A., Scandlin, P., &Gizlice, Z. (2006). experienced violence by a spouse 13 . Physical and sexual assault of women with disabilities. Violence Against Women, 12, 823-837. • Male partners of women with disabilities were about 2.5 12 times more likely to behave in a patriarchal dominating Barnett, O., Miller-Perrin, C. L., & Perrin, R. D. (2005). Family manner and about 1.5 times more likely to engage in violence across the lifespan: An introduction (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. (pp. 353-354) sexu ally proprietary behaviours than were male partners 13 of women without disabilities 14 . Perreault, S. (2009), Criminal Victimization and Health: A Profile of Victimization Among Persons with Activity Limitations Bonnie Brayton has been the National Executive Director of or Other Health Problems. Ottawa, Ontario: Canadian Centre for DAWN-RAFH Canada since establishing a National Head Justice Statistics, p.10. Office in Montreal in May 2007. 14 Brownridge, D.A. (2006) ‘’Partner violence against women with disabilities: prevalence, risk, and explanations’’, Violence Against Women , 12 (9), p. 818.

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UNDERSTANDING SEXUAL ASSAULT AS A SERIAL OFFENCE: IMPLICATIONS FOR INVESTIGATION AND CONVICTION BY JOANNE BAKER , EVA BC R ESEARCH & P ROJECTS MANAGER

Sexual assault by someone known to the survivor is a a study about ‘childhood experiences and adult function ing’ common but notoriously under-reported crime and subject (Lisak & Miller 2002). The surveys included the Abuse- to low conviction rates in comparison to other violent Perpetration Inventory that asks questions about sexual crimes and compared to sexual assault committed by a behaviour using behaviourally explicit language to stranger. Fewer than 1 in 10 sexual assaults are reported describe particular acts but not words such as ‘rape’, ‘abuse’ to police (Brennan & Taylor-Butts 2008) and 0.3% of or ‘assault’ and no questions about whether or not there offenders are convicted (Johnson 2012). There is a perva sive has been prosecution for these acts. From their responses perception within the general public and criminal justice to the surveys, 120 of these 1882 men (6.4%) met the community, that ‘non-stranger’ sexual assault is somehow cri teria for rape or attempted rape. Of these 120 men, 76 less serious than that perpetrated by strangers. Discussion (63%) were serial offenders (with either multiple victims about ‘acquaintance’ sexual assault frequently centres on or more than one offence committed against the same miscommunication and the role of alcohol, which may lead person) with 439 rapes and attempted rapes in total – an to their misperception as unfortunate, isolated incidents average of 5.8 rapes for each serial offender. with otherwise ‘nice guys’. The argument that this kind of The study also found that the majority of these 120 men sexual assault is a serial phenomenon – the focus of this were not only responsible for rape. Their survey responses article – challenges such misconceptions and suggests also indicated that they had committed 49 sexual assaults opportunities to improve the investigation and conviction other than rape, 66 acts of physical abuse of children, 277 of these crimes. acts of sexual abuse of children and 214 acts of battery. Forensic psychologist David Lisak argues that rape is most Other characteristics of serial offenders include the ten dency commonly a repeated offence amongst both convicted and to plan their offences rather than acting impulsively, the ‘undetected’ offenders. His research finds that sex offend ers use of alcohol and other drugs to increase the vulnerabil ity are relatively few in number, but commit multiple crimes. of their victims and minimal physical force to threaten Lisak’s study with male college students in the Boston and intimidate. Lisak describes these as men who prey on area involved 1882 men completing a series of surveys for vulnerable people per se, so they may commit offences Connect with EVA BC Online! Follow us on @ EndViolenceBC

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PAGE 9 EVA BC NEWSLETTER / FALL 2014

against both adults and children. Those who rape and lim ited use where the survivor knows the offender because sex ually assault family members are likely to target non- consent rather than identity is usually in question and family members too. physical injuries are less likely to be present. However, Other studies have found similar results. For example, DNA matches to additional reported offences can greatly McWherter et al (2009) used similar methodology to strengthen an investigation. Lisak suggests that even a Lisak and Miller and surveyed new male recruits to second victim profoundly alters an investigation. the US Navy. They found that of the 1146 men who Lisak argues that this emphasises the necessity of testing all partici pated, 13% had committed rape and 71% were sexual assault kits (SAKs) in order to populate search able, serial offenders with an average of 6 rapes each. Serial diligently maintained databases with as much infor mation rapists were responsible for 95% of the rapes disclosed in as possible. This allows for linking DNA pro files between the study. Participants in the research were assessed on reported crimes in order to find serial offenders. The backlog induction to the Navy and again one year later. Those who of unprocessed SAKs reported in the US represent systemic had raped prior to entering the Navy were 10 times more missed opportunities to charge and prosecute sexual offences, likely to rape during their first year in the Navy than men as do those that are untested (Ritter 2013) and the impend - who had never raped, demonstrating that having commit ted ing reduction of RCMP forensic labs in Canada from 6 to 3 rape is a strong predictor for future sexual violence is therefore cause for concern (http://www.cbc.ca/news/ and underscoring the fact that it is most commonly a politics/rcmp-to-close-labs-in-halifax-winnipeg-regina- serial offence. 1.1186404). The volume of unprocessed SAKs is also insen - According to Lisak, about 5% of men admit to commit ting sitive to the women who submit themselves to the lengthy rape and about 3% of men are serial predators who are and invasive process of gathering DNA evidence in the hope responsible for more than 90% of rapes. An offending that it will result in prosecution of their offender and the pre - ‘career’ is likely to continue for decades because there is vention of future crimes. such a low probability of detection or prosecution and There are some important cautions to the argument for because it is likely to start early. Longitudinal data indi cates increased use of forensic evidence in investigating and that men who commit serial sexual assault typically begin pros ecuting sexual assault. While there is not space here to this in adolescence – most frequently at around 16 years discuss them in full, please see Quadra et al. (2013) for a old (Grotpeter et al, 2008; Tracy et al 1990). This supports more lengthy analysis. The increased use of DNA may the argument against the use of Alternative Measures in exacerbate the demand for scientific corroboration of the sexual assault cases; British Columbia is one of the only testimony of sexual assault survivors and diminish the provinces to allow diversion to a community supervision importance of other forms of evidence. It may contribute to program and the staying of criminal charges if this is a narrow conception of what is regarded as sexual assault. suc cessfully completed. While Alternative Measures are The majority of sexual offenders have never been convicted not permitted for aggravated sexual assault or sexual and are unlikely to show up on a DNA database but given assault with a weapon, Lisak’s research indicates that the the disproportionate numbers of poor, Aboriginal and men majority of serial sex offenders do not use such force but of colour who are convicted, the use of DNA databases is go on to commit multiple offences. likely to exacerbate this inequality. The use of DNA in If the majority of sexual assaults are committed by a small criminal investigation is costly and it could be argued that percentage of men who commit serial sexual offences from resources are better directed to under-funded anti-violence an early age, this knowledge has the potential to improve programs. There are also con cerns about the sensitivity of criminal justice system responses to sexual violence. Each genetic information and the far-reaching consequences of report is an opportunity to investigate a series of rapes - breaches of privacy in relation to an individual’s DNA. including in cases of non-stranger sexual assault. The role Lisak’s argument that sexual assault should primarily be of identification data for stranger sexual assault has long understood as a serial phenomenon is a powerful and been accepted as important where sexual contact is use ful one. Undetected rapists represent the vast majority denied. However, it has been thought that DNA is of of offenders and account for the majority of rapes.

PAGE 10 EVA BC NEWSLETTER / FALL 2014

This understanding should be more thoroughly and Johnson, H. (2012). Limits of a criminal justice response: sys tematically integrated to criminal justice responses – Trends in police and court processing of sexual assault. particularly investigation. Given the statistical likelihood In E. Sheehy (Ed.) Sexual Assault in Canada: Law, that a rapist has committed previous sexual offences and Legal Practice and Women’s Activism. Ottawa: University of Ottawa Press, 613-634. acts of violence, a methodical investigation of DNA matches, as well as an accused person’s social network (the Lisak, D. & Miller, P. M. (2002). Repeat rape and multiple social venues they frequent, former girlfriends and offending among undetected rapists. Violence and acquaintances) may reveal previous incidents which Victims , 17, 1, 73-84. con tribute to a stronger case for prosecution. This is an McWhorter, S. K., Stander, V. A., Merrill, L. L., Thomsen, C. J., argument for the highly motivated, detailed investigation & Milner, J. S. (2009). Reports of rape reperpetration by newly of sexual assault cases, which has not historically enlisted male navy personnel. Violence and Victims, 24, 204- 218. charac terised systemic policing approaches to such mat ters, Ritter, N. (2013). Untested Evidence in Sexual Assault Cases: but which may have a significant impact on the under- Using Research to Guide Policy and Practice. Sexual Assault reporting and low prosecution rates for these crimes. Report , 16, 3, 33-43. Available at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/241356.pdf. David Lisak’s webinar, ‘Serial Offending and the Testing Tracy, P. E., Wolfgang, M. E. & Figlio, R. M. (1990). Delinquency of Rape Kits’ from January 2014 is available at the Careers in Two Birth Cohorts. New York: Plenum Press. National Center for Victims of Crime website: Quadra, A., Fileborn, B. and Parkinson, D. (2013). The role http://www.victimsofcrime.org/our-programs/dna-resourc e- of forensic medical evidence in the prosecution of adult center/training/archived-webinars/2014/01/14/default- sexual assault, ACCSA Issues , no. 15. Australian Centre for calendar/serial-offending-and-the-testing-of-rape-kits the Study of Sexual Assault. Available at: http://www.aifs.gov.au/acssa/pubs/issue/i15/issues15.pdf.0.112 References in0.112 in Brennan, S. & Taylor-Butts, A. (2008). Sexual Assault in Canada, 2004 (2008) Statistics Canada 85F0033M No 19. Grotpeter, J., Menard, S. Gianola, D. & O’Neal, M. (2008). Sexual Violence: Longitudinal, Multigenerational Evidence from the National Youth Survey. NIJ Grant # 2003-WG-BX-1001. Department of Justice. CHECK OUT EVA TV ON YOUTUBE! View PSAs and Tips videos from our Be More Than a Bystander campaign, keynote speakers from previous Annual Training Forums and more. www.youtube.com/user/endviolencebc

PAGE 11 EVA BC NEWSLETTER / FALL 2014

MAKING SAFETY A PRIORITY: UNDERSTANDING FORCED MARRIAGES BY HARJIT KAUR , EVA BC P ROGRAM MANAGER It was in the wake of the 2012 Shafia murder trial in BC, was launched in April 2014 to focus on the issue of Kingston, Ontario involving a Montreal family that EVA forced marriages. This project is funded by Department of BC identified the need to further explore the need for Justice Canada. knowledge and tools in the anti-violence sector for work ers Part of the impetus for developing this project was the to provide assistance in situations of forced marriages. results of a survey EVA BC conducted in 2012 with 240 Forced marriages need to be understood within the anti-violence programs across British Columbia. The vio lence against women framework. results of that survey, on forced marriage and honour based Despite the importance of understanding forced crimes, indicated that many service providers needed more mar riages within the context of violence against women, tools and training to identify the warning signs of coercion Canada has not yet formally addressed the issue of forced of forced marriages, to be informed how to support marriages, although various provisions in family law, indi viduals and have strategies to employ for intervention. immigration law, and criminal law identify scenarios This project will provide a risk assessment framework to related to potential consequences of marriage without assist service providers in dealing with cases of forced consent. Globally the issue of forced marriages remains marriage, facilitate open discussion with different stake - a concern. holders, including men and women, and raise awareness British Columbia has progressive policies and services to of the issue in the community. The project will work address the safety of immigrant women and yet there across geographic areas to include communities in remains a need to further examine the gaps and identify Vancouver and the Lower Mainland and outlying rural safety issues for women who continue to experience communities. The risk assessment framework will be vio lence when facing the issue of forced marriages and its designed to educate and train law enforcement, violence implication on their lives. service providers, child protection workers, English Forced marriages are often difficult to report and respond Language instructors and other educators, and help to as the perpetrators or those committing this act of abuse estab lish appropriate strategies for identifying and report ing are members of the immediate and extended family, incidents of forced. including parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins of the person involved. The South Asian Legal References Clinic of Ontario (SALCO) defines a forced marriage as a 1. Bendriss, Naïma. (2008). Report on the Practice of Forced marriage without consent, where pressure or abuse is used Marriage in Canada. Interviews with Frontline Workers. to coerce one or both persons to marry. The abuse could be Department of Justice Canada: Ottawa. emotional, mental or physical using threats, isolation, guilt 2. June Jordan – from Symington, A. 2004. “Intersectionality: or taken overseas to marry. “A marriage that is forced is a A tool for gender and economic justice.” Facts & Issues 9 form of violence and an abuse of human rights. It is against (August). Toronto: The Association for Women’s Rights in the law in Canada to force someone to get married.” Development (AWID). www.awid.org. (http://www.forcedmarriages.ca) http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/01/24/page/2/ http://www.ottawasun.com/2012/01/26/honour-killings-on-the- The Forced Marriages Project rise-in-canada-study The Enhancing Community Capacity to Respond to and 3. Anis, Maryum, Konanur, Shalini & Mattoo, Deepa. (2013). Prevent Forced Marriage (aka Forced Marriage Project), Who – If – When To Marry: The Incidence of Forced Marriage which is being led by MOSAIC, in partnership with EVA in Ontario. South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario: Toronto.

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EVA BC UPDATES

Seven Years After Oak Bay RCMP Regulation Amendments On September 3, 2014, EVA BC held a highly In March 2014, EVA BC developed a submission to the successful media conference to mark the seventh anniver - Department of Public Safety and Emergency sary of the tragedy in Oak Bay that saw Sunny Park and Preparedness and the Department of Justice in response to her family murdered by her estranged husband, Peter Lee, their call for input on pending RCMP regulation amend - who then committed suicide. Our goal is holding this ments that address the long-standing issue of proactive event was to not only honour the memory of Sunny Park RCMP referrals to assist victims of crime in accessing and her family, but to also issue a plea to the Province of community-based victim services in a timely manner. BC to take immediate action to increase the safety of We received a detailed response to the questions and concerns we women and children impacted by violence. raised in our submission in July 2014. Key points addressed were: The media were intensely interested in what we had to • In response to EVA BC’s request for confirmation that the say and an enormous amount of coverage resulted, term “security clearances” of the proposed Regulations with stories running in all the major newspapers and means a criminal record check as opposed to a higher level television broadcasts, as well as numerous radio inter - of security clearance, which may not be applicable in the views. These can all be located on our website at case of Community-Based Victim Assistance Programs http://endingviolence.org /news-media-eva-bcs-press- (CBVAP) of British Columbia (BC). conference-seven-years-oak-bay/ . The level of security clearance applicable to VSO staff will be At the media conference, EVA BC reported on the high determined by Victim Services and Crime Prevention of the number of domestic violence related murders, attempted Community Safety and Crime Prevention Branch of the murders and suicides that BC has stood witness to so far Ministry of Justice of British Columbia, in consultation with this year and illustrated the dramatic differences in fund ing the Pacific Region RCMP “E” Division and representatives increases between anti-violence programs and other of victim services organizations. sec tors such as health, education and policing – graph • In response to EVA BC’s request that the grounds on which lines that move steadily upwards while the anti-violence a Commanding Officer refuses to recognize a CBVAP as an sector stays flat. Since the time of that news event 5 more organization that may receive referral information be provided people are dead as a result of domestic violence in BC in writing: bring ing the current total up to 25. The RCMP will amend its national policy to provide that a The following week, the media was saturated by anoth er Commanding Officer will communicate the grounds for their very public incident – the story of NFL player Ray Rice refusal to recognize a VSO [Victim Services Organization] and his acts of domestic violence against his then to the Director of Victims Services of the province in which fiancée Janay Rice – and EVA BC, along with our Be the organization operates. The Director will determine how More Than a Bystander partner the BC Lions – again to inform the VSO of the grounds for refusal. found ourselves speaking to the media and sharing our • In response to EVA BC’s suggestion that the proposed analysis of the fundamental issues involved in the Regulations include a directive requiring members of the prevalence of violence against women in society in Pacific Region RCMP “E” Division to proactively refer gen eral, not just as it relates to sports celebrities, but victims of power-based crimes directly to a CBVAP rather also what needs to change to keep women safer. than Police-Based Victim Assistance Programs which in Much of the media coverage focused on the incredibly turn refer them to a CBVAP: positive work being done by EVA BC and the BC As this issue concerns proactive referrals within the province Lions through our partnership, Be More Than a of British Columbia, it would be best addressed at the Bystander and how it is inspiring change. provincial level.

PAGE 13 EVA BC NEWSLETTER / FALL 2014

BOOK REVIEW BY NICKI BREUER , O DIN BOOKS

Calming the Emotional Storm: control, it can make all the difference if you know you Using Dialectical Behaviour have the internal resources to responsibly manage both Therapy Skills to Manage Your your thoughts and behaviour. Emotions and Balance Your Life Resilience, the ability to quickly recover from setbacks, is one of the best skills anyone can develop. Calming the By Sheri Van Dijk, MSW, RSW Emotional Storm teaches readers how to cope with fright ening Retail Price at ODIN BOOKS $19.95 emotions, learn to trust personal decisions and improve “Focus on the present; stay relationships as a result. In simple, easy-to-understand out of the future.We can’t concepts, readers learn to stop focusing on right or wrong, accept things that haven’t fair or unfair, and concentrate on creating their own happened yet.” per sonal vision for a happier future. Reduce emotional reactivity In order to make cognitive behavioral changes, one must first and claim your life.Change become aware of both the situation that triggered the your focus from thinking emo tions and identify the responses that usually result from about what’s right or wrong, these encounters.From this vantage point, change is possible. fair or unfair to thinking about your future, your An event occurs, positive, negative or neutral.Our mind goals.This is the heart of interprets that event and calls forth an emotion.But when Sheri Van Dijk’s message in thoughts and feelings are flooded by panic, distorted her book, Calming the per ceptions rule. The challenge is not to respond Emotional Storm. emo tionally to the situation at hand, but rather the inter nal interpretation of this event. Teaching emotional intelligence in schools is a crucial component of helping children learn how to cope in the By quieting our emotions, we learn how to see life with - world.Unfortunately, there are many adults who were out the blinders of abuse, negative self-judgments and the never taught the power of owning and managing their judgments of others.The author lists 10 myths about emotions.Those of us who did not grow up with positive emotions and the explanations as to why these myths are role models for functional adult behavior may be short - faulty, 10 tips for getting through a crisis without making changed when it comes to a number of essential life it worse, and 10 tips for reality acceptance, something cru cial skills.Important decisions that shape the course of one’s to our day-to-day lives. life, like the selection of a mate or life partner may be Learning these skills helps develop resilience and based on infatuation, the desire to escape an abusive home improves coping mechanisms.The information learned in life or a simple shortage of single people. this book can help readers accept reality for what it is, People need to recognize they have choices.They also rather than what they imagine or wish.With practice of need to recognize that no matter how overwhelming or the suggested techniques, readers may find their lives strong their emotions feel, emotions do not have to rule becoming calmer and more satisfying. their lives or the choices they make.If you believe your Filled with exercises on mindfulness and practice in emotions rule your life, they will.If you learn you are not interpretation of emotional responses, this book is your emotions, the world opens up with rich in insight and wise support for those in need of a possibilities.Even when you feel life is careening out of helping hand.

PAGE 14 EVA BC NEWSLETTER / FALL 2014

RESPONDING TO SUICIDAL THOUGHTS IN YOUNG CLIENTS: FROM A PARADIGM OF FEAR TO A PARADIGM OF HOPE BY LAURA HAMILTON , M.E D

According to the Child Death Review Unit of the BC offer a youth a viable alternative to their suffering, a way Public Coroners Service, rates of suicide among those to end their pain that also supports them to continue 10-19 have generally plateaued in the past 20 years liv ing, most will grab onto this. Of course to do this, we (2008). However, the topic of youth suicide has gained must keep our own emotions and fears in check. prominence as stories of young people taking their own There is a dearth of literature on the factors that influence lives have appeared with greater frequency in the news. a counsellor’s response to the topic of suicide. However a It is something that increasingly enters our dialogue and, number of factors can be suggested intuitively. Possibilities certainly as counsellors, remains on our radar. And with include: One’s personal experience with suicide; Beliefs good reason. regarding suicide (e.g. the belief that suicide is a sin); or We know that suicide is still the 2nd leading cause of False assumptions about suicidal people (e.g. “this person death among youth in British Columbia, after motor is only looking for attention”). Anecdotally, I have found vehicle accidents. According to the Coroner’s Report that a counsellor’s level of training in suicide and feelings (2008), 81 youth, aged 12 to 17, took their own life of competence in responding to suicide risk, are signifi - between 2003-2007. Of these youth, 45% suffered from cant predictors of their confidence in dealing with suicidal a mental illness, and 67% had spoken to someone clients. Certainly this makes sense, as knowing what to do (often a helping professional) about their thoughts in a situation will generally allow us to feel less anxious before taking their life. Clearly, when working with when that situation arises. at-risk youth, suicide risk is something that can never So, what do we do as counsellors when we know or suspect be far from our minds. that a youth issuicidal? Ask. Listen. Connect. Plan. Youth suicide is also a topic that can bring up strong emo - tions. Many counsellors feel anxiety when confronted with Asking a youth who is contemplating suicide. Understandably so; We must consider both how to ask, and what to ask. Let us the suicide of a client may be one of the most traumatic first look at the “How.” When a youth shares thoughts of things we could face. However, this can lead us to work suicide (or if they have not yet disclosed, but you sus pect they within a paradigm of fear when it comes to suicidality. may be struggling with these thoughts), first take a moment Such fear may, in turn, result in silencing or stigmatizing for self-awareness. Anxiety is a normal response. However, our young clients if they feel we cannot handle what they we must be aware of our anxiety and assess to what degree have to share. As difficult as it is to hear a youth disclose it may impact our ability to respond. Be aware of any thoughts of killing themselves, it is far worse for them to assumptions or preconceptions you bring, and how they may struggle with the thoughts and not disclose them, fearing colour your response. Ask the youth about their thoughts that they will be seen as “crazy,” that no one will under - and feelings calmly, respectfully, and directly. Although our stand, or that no one will be able to help them. anxiety sometimes leads us to skirt around the issue, it is Most youth who are contemplating suicide do not actually important that we are specific and direct in our questions, want to die, but rather they want their pain to end and naming suicidal thoughts for they are. Openness and trans - know no other way to make this happen. They may have parency in our conversation can serve to normalize their struggled with their pain for a long time and have given thoughts, decrease shame and stigma, and provide them up hope that it will ever get any better. Often, if we can with a feeling that someone understands and is able to help.

PAGE 15 EVA BC NEWSLETTER / FALL 2014

Now for the: “What.” Suicidal ideation occurs on a very safe! This means that you have some time to just listen to broad spectrum, from those who have had a few fleeting them before making any plans of where to go next. thoughts, with no intent of following through, to those Most youth who are contemplating suicide did not reach who think about it constantly and have planned when and this point overnight. Stressors have built up over time and how they will act. The majority will fall somewhere in their previous attempts at coping have failed. Often they between, but in order to understand a client’s particular have tried unsuccessfully to reach out to others, resulting situation, we must gather information in a sense of hopelessness. Simply taking the time to sit There are vast resources on what information is important and listen to what a youth has to say, calmly, empathically, to obtain when assessing suicide risk (Berman, Jobes & and without judgment can help them feel they are not Silverman, 2006; Shea, 2002). Agencies, schools, and alone. This is the first step on the road to hope. Keep in other organizations generally have suicide protocols in mind that most youth do not actually want to die, but they place, and it is important to follow any guidelines that are do want their pain to end. Suicide is a choice they are there for you. Having said this, here is a list of some mak ing to get out of a horrible situation, but by listening pri mary areas for assessment: to them and partnering with them, you can help them see • Suicidal Ideation: How frequently do they have that another choice is possible. thoughts of suicide? How intense or pervasive are these thoughts? Connecting If, in listening to the youth’s story, you feel as though they • Plan: Do they have a plan for how they would are indeed in imminent danger of hurting themselves, kill themselves? How specific is the plan? How immediate action is necessary. Again, there are generally immediate is the plan (i.e., have they decided when suicide protocols outlining who needs to become involved, they would do it)? and it is important to follow whatever steps are expected • Method: Have they chosen a method? Do they have in your agency. In the most serious cases, it may be neces sary the means (i.e., do they have access to pills, a knife, a for that youth to be brought to the hospital. If this is the gun, etc.)? case, do not leave the youth unattended until you are • Reasons: Why have they chosen death as their way cer tain their care has been transferred to crisis responders. out? Also, what reasons might they have for living? Even if the situation does not warrant an emergency Even one small reason for living provides a foundation response, it may still be helpful for other professionals to for hope in the future. become involved, either immediately or with a timely • Past attempts: 40% of youth who complete a suicide referral. Additional supports might include a mental have made a prior attempt (Child Death Unit, 2008). health worker, addictions worker, social worker, or crisis Find out whether your client has made one. counsellor. Research the resources in your community to Gathering this information will give you insight into ensure that you have the appropriate contacts available. how serious a situation the youth is in and will guide the intensity of your response. Planning As counsellors, we are excellent resources and supports to Listen, Listen, Listen! our clients. However we cannot get around the fact that Perhaps even more important than gathering information we will not be with them at all times. Ultimately, we need and assessing risk, is ensuring that we are keeping the to help them find ways to help themselves when we are lines of communication open. Sometimes, in our anxiety not there. For youth who have contemplated suicide, this and desire to help, we can quickly become action oriented. means helping them figure out how they will keep them - While there will soon be a time for taking action, it is selves safe from harm after they leave you (note that this important not to lose sight of the individual in front of us is only if you have decided that they are not in imminent and inadvertently shut conversation down. Remember, as danger and do not require hospitalization). Some may call long as the youth is sitting in your office with you, they are this a safety plan, a plan for living, or a coping guide.

PAGE 16 EVA BC NEWSLETTER / FALL 2014

Regardless of the name, the intent is for the youth to have atmosphere of fear around suicide, although understand - a practical, realistic and easy to follow set of tools that they able, can often lead to greater uncertainty and hopeless ness can use if they are distressed or begin to have thoughts of for a suicidal youth, as it may confirm their belief that no self-harm. On a small piece of paper, help the youth one can help them and that things really are as desperate brainstorm answers to the following questions: as they believe them to be. • What are 3 things I can do to feel better (e.g. go for a If we focus on fear, they will focus on fear. If we focus on walk, have a bath, eat a favorite meal)? hope, they are far more likely to do the same. We are there • Who are 2-3 friends that I can talk to right now to provide a lifeline to them. We can do this by ensuring (either to share how I’m feeling, or even just to that we have the skills to respond to a suicidal client, and dis tract me)? by remembering that most suicidal youth would actually prefer another way out of their pain, if only we can help • Who is a trusted adult that I can go to for help (e.g. them believe it is possible. counsellor, teacher, social worker, or parent)? • Where can I go where I know I won’t hurt myself (e.g. Laura Hamilton is the Child and Youth Suicide Clinician counsellor’s office, a friend’s house, the living room with the Child and Adolescent Response Team (C.A.R.T.) at where others can see me)? Vancouver Coastal Health. In her current role, she provides direct crisis response, assessment, and counseling to at-risk • What are the crisis numbers/resources that I can youth, as well as providing training and education about con tact if none of the other things are working? sui cide and self-injury within the community of Vancouver. Remember that this plan is for the youth. It must contain She is a Registered Social Worker with a background in the ideas that they will find helpful, not what we think would fields of child welfare, education, trauma and mental health. be helpful. It can be very empowering for a youth to real ize She is presenting the workshop, “Suicide and Self-injury in that they do in fact have some tools to help themselves out Youth: What to Look For, What to Ask, What to Do” at EVA of a difficult situation. BC’s Annual Training Forum 2014.

From Fear to Hope This article originally appeared in the August 2012 edition of It is a heartbreaking thing to encounter a youth in such “Insights into Clinical Counselling”. It is reprinted here with the kind permission of the author and the BC Association of great pain that they are contemplating taking their life. It Clinical Counsellors. can also be highly anxiety provoking if we do not feel con fident and competent in our ability to help. This MOVING THE CONVERSATION FORWARD View videos from the Office of the Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime featuring speakers from across the country, including EVA BC's Tracy Porteous, at http://www.victimsfirst.gc.ca/res/video.html

PAGE 17 EVA BC NEWSLETTER / FALL 2014

NEWS FROM AROUND BC

Bill C-31: The Journey of a violence homicides in BC, this collaboration was co- founded by the former VWTHS Executive Director Skidegate Women’s Circle Debby Hamilton and RCMP Sgt. Robb Daly. Their CONTRIBUTED BY NELL -A NN TOEGEL , vision has proven invaluable and has lead to our own ISLANDS WOMEN SOCIETY CCWS program assisting 25 more communities to date In the Spring 2012 edition of the EVA BC newsletter, Nell- across BC to follow this lead to ensure more cross sector, Ann Toegel reported on a group that had formed in Haida high-risk, domestic violence risk assessment and safety Gwaii as part of the healing process for women impacted by management initiatives are in place. Bill C-21. Group participants supported each other through The video produced to highlight ICAT can be viewed at: the power of shared experience, shared coping strategies and http://www.youtube.com/user/BCPublicService#p/p mutual understanding. Earlier this year, on June 20th, the Bill C-31 circle finished with a ceremony that was video - taped. To view the 1-hour presentation, Impact of the Indian SKY (Safe Kids & Youth) Act on a Group of First Nations Women: The Journey of a Coordinated Response Skidegate Women’s Circle , go to http://www.isuma.tv/haida- West Kootenay Boundary Region media-network/the-women-of-bill-c-31. CONTRIBUTED BY SARAH BOLTON , T HE ADVOCACY CENTRE /N ELSON CARES S OCIETY Premier’s Award for In June 2014, CCWS Regional Coordinators Gail North Okanagan ICAT Edinger and Debby Hamilton, traveled to Grand Forks, Nakusp and Castlegar to deliver three one-day trainings on CONTRIBUTED BY BROOKE MCCLARDY , V ERNON WOMEN ’S TRANSITION HOUSE SOCIETY ‘Strengthening Coordination’. This training was part of a multi-year project funded by Department of Justice Canada in the West Kootenay Boundary region to develop a coordinated response for child and youth victims of abuse, violence or neglect. The highly collaborative coordi - nation model being implemented in the region builds on the ICAT and VAWIR coordination work that CCWS has carried out in some communities in the region already. The project links a regional advisory committee to local child and youth coordination committees in the five areas of the region – Greater Trail, Castlegar and District, Nelson and Area, Nakusp and Area, and Grand Forks/Boundary – with the goal of maximizing intera gency The North Okanagan Case Management Team (ICAT) collaboration to improve the experiences of child and was announced as the winner of the Regional Premier’s youth victims. EVA BC members will be interested to Award in the Partnership category during an online video know that two of the project’s five ‘local Coordinators’ are presentation on September 4, 2014. The Premier’s Award from Community-based Victim Services programs: Sarah honours exceptional service to British Columbians by Bolton in Nelson, and Sherri Bond in Trail. provincial public service employees and their partners. For more information about the project please contact The North Okanagan ICAT is a partnership between the Regional Coordinator, Lynda Dechief, at CRCYV@ Vernon Community Based Victim Assistance program thekoop.ca or visit: http://thekoop.ca/about/projects/ and the Vernon RCMP detachment. In 2008, in response coord-response-child-victims/ to recommendations made related to a series of domestic

PAGE 18 EVA BC NEWSLETTER / FALL 2014

TRAINING, PROJECTS & PARTNERSHIPS

Be More Than a Bystander 100 90 Now into its 4th year, Be More Than a Bystander continues to capture the interest of youth and the gen eral 80 70 public. Earlier this year, the reach of the publicity Auditorium Session 60 cam paign was conservatively estimated to have reached Interactive Workshop 116 million views or impressions and over 44,000 youth 50 have been reached in-person through the youth educa tion 40 component of the program. BC Lions players who 30 deliv ered presentations to youth in 2014 were Shawn 20 Gore, Angus Reid, Dean Valli, Travis Lulay, J.R. Larose 10 and Rolly Lumbala. 0 Do Something Do Nothing Not Sure

Domestic Violence in the Workplace Training Video As a direct result of EVA BC’s relationship with Encana, one of the founding partners of the Be More Than a Bystander initiative, work is now underway to develop a training video specifically for workers in resource extrac tion industries to prevent violence against women. In July 2014, the Province of BC and Encana issued a joint announcement that they are investing $40,000 in the development of the training video. J.R. LaRose and Shawn Gore presented Be More Than a Bystander to over 80 youth and other community members in Ahousaht, February 2014. Domestic Violence Consultation to

Exit surveys completed by a sampling of students at each Mongolian Government event show significant increases in their knowledge about Since September 2013, EVA BC has provided consulta tion the issues and their belief they would now act on to the Mongolian government, who are in the process of sug gested techniques to “be more than a bystander”. A drafting domestic violence federal legislation and seeking sampling of comments from the students about what they consultation with experts in the field. In January 2014, would now do if they ‘heard someone saying something EVA BC presented on the role of NGOs and the impor tance abusive about women or girls include: of a coordinated community response to domestic and sexual violence in a training session for the Mongolian • Say that’s not cool Knowledge Sharing Study Tour when they visited • Tell someone Vancouver. The purpose of that training was to gain • Break it up, divert attention knowledge of the Canadian Criminal and Civil Justice • Talk to the girl, ask if she’s alright system, court administration, legal education and coordi - nated approach to domestic violence in BC. Most • Tell them it isn’t funny recently, in July 2014, EVA BC hosted an all day meeting • Stand up for the person getting bullied with the Mongolian Delegation at the EVA BC offices.

PAGE 19 EVA BC NEWSLETTER / FALL 2014

Indigenous Communities Safety Project (ICSP) In our last update, we reported that Melissa Hyland was COMMUNITY COORDINATION going to take over the position of Coordinator for the for Women’s Safety ISCP. Unfortunately, due to personal circumstances, Melissa was not able to do so. However, we are happy to COMMUNITY COORDINATION let you know that Beverley Jacobs has been able to FOR WOMEN’S SAFETY (CCWS) con tinue on with the position. PROGRAM Earlier this year, Bev provided some consultation to the CCWS helps BC communities develop new models and improv ing Surrey Women’s Centre on their Seeking Safety project existing models of cross-sector coordination on violence against around Indigenous community engagement. And, with women. Learn more at www.endingviolence.org/ccws. the confirmation of the BC Ministry of Justice Civil Forfeiture Grant and the Canadian Women’s Foundation Issues that have emerged from the sector in recent funding, Bev has been able to continue the work of engag ing months have included: with Indigenous communities to deliver the Indigenous • The many domestic violence related murders and Communities Safety Project. This has been ongoing since attempted murders of women this year. April 2014. The goal is to have one ICSP workshop per • The need for management training and support for month in community. managers of women-serving and anti-violence agencies. A workshop was recently delivered in the First Nations • Use of gendered versus gender neutral language. community of Wiukinuvx Village on September 16 - 18, 2014 and it was highly successful. Bev’s co-facilitator for • Understanding at community level of the importance this workshop was Marilyn George, STV Counsellor at of having a VAWIR as well as an ICAT. the Northern Society for Domestic Peace. A workshop is • Training needs throughout the sector. confirmed for Lake Babine on October 28-30, 2014. The co-facilitator for this workshop is Belinda Lacombe, STV Coordination Initiative Capacity Outreach at the Northern Society for Domestic Peace. Bev has made a connection with Brian Muth, Community Building Highlights Engagement Coordinator, Aboriginal Health for Fraser ICAT Consultation (Revelstoke; April 7, 2014): A Health - Circle Fraser East. With this excellent connec tion, meeting/training session was held with Interior Health Bev is communicating with the Sto:lo Nations along the to discuss information sharing. Fraser Valley and having discussions to have the ICSP in those First Nations communities. So far, Bev has Our Vision Is To Stop Abuse (OVISTA) (Quesnel; con firmed workshops in Seabird Island First Nation April 10, 2014): CCWS was invited by the Quesnel (November 25-27, 2014) and in Mission to be held at the Women’s Resource Centre to give a one-day workshop on Friendship Centre (January 27-29, 2015). VAWIR coordination. 26 participants attended a day of mapping and planning related to a Status of Women Rural For more information on the Indigenous Communities Women’s Safety Grant project. Safety Project, visit our website at http://endingviolence. org/prevention-programs/indigenous-communities-safe - Developing a Coordinated Response to Sexual ty-project/ or contact Project Consultant Beverley Jacobs Assault (Robson Valley; April 16-17, 2014) : Over 30 directly at [email protected] or by phone at 604- participants from Dunster, Valemont, Clearwater, 633-2506 ext 16. Barriere and McBride participated in this 2-day train ing that was attended by a broad cross section of service providers including police who presented on police sex ual assault procedures.

PAGE 20 EVA BC NEWSLETTER / FALL 2014

Working Collaboratively to Identify and Respond to Highest Risk Domestic Violence; ICAT and VAWIR 2 Day Training, (Grand Forks; June 24 & 25, 2014): SAFE CHOICES Contracted Regional Coordinator Debby Hamilton, PROGRAM Regional Coordinator Gail Edinger and RCMP Cst. Safe Choices Support and Education Program focuses on Jeremy Bubar (Penticton DVU) presented this 2-day improving the health and safety of LGTB2SQ (lesbian, gay, ICAT Training and VAWIR capacity-building to 35 bisexual, trans*, Two-Spirit and queer) women who are cur rently par ticipants. RCMP and CBVS and PBVS representatives or have been in abusive same-sex/gender relationships and from Trail and Cranbrook participated in the training, preventing relationship violence. Safe Choices works by along with service providers from MCFD, Health/Alcohol pro viding information and tools in the form of community & Drug, Transition House, and school counselling services. workshops that encourage healthy relationships, as well as delivering educational workshops that focus on LGBT2SQ Fraser Health Authority “Safe Relationships, Safe women’s experiences, for those who work in anti-violence, Children” (Surrey; June 27, 2014): A presentation was vic tims services, social services and health care settings. delivered to SRSC leaders from throughout the Fraser Health Authority to give an overview of the objectives and Three Healthy Relationships workshops have been delivered process of ICAT. this financial year and have been well attended and received. The updated Safe Choices program curriculum has helped Conference Call: VAWIR and Sexual Assault to refreshed and energize the workshops – we extend our Coordination Initiatives thanks to Rachael Sullivan for her terrific work on this. On October 1, 2014 CCWS staff once again facilitated a If you are interested in supporting the Safe Choices conference call for coordination initiatives throughout the pro gram, the Advisory Committee needs new members – province. Topics discussed included how initiatives are please contact Val Wilkins with any suggestions you meeting the demands of keeping interest in VAWIR might have. alongside the competing interests of ICATs and other To check the workshop schedule check the Calendar of ini tiatives. Participants also shared ideas for invigorating Events on the EVA BC website at www.endingviolence.org and re-energizing VAWIR coordination initiatives. and visit the Safe Choices page, too, at http://endingvio - lence.org/prevention-programs/safe-choices-program/. You New CCWS Resources can find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com What Are Domestic Violence Interagency Case Assessment Teams /pages/Safe-Choices-Support-and-Education- and What Do They Do? This CCWS Info Bulletin, originally Program/201862469883345?ref=hl issued in May 2014, was revised in September 2014. Contact Val Wilkins, Safe Choices Program Coordinator To view these and other CCWS resources and publica tions online, by email at [email protected] or telephone please visit http://endingviolence.org/research-publications/. (C) 778-836-8933 or (O) 604-633-2506.

ICAT Best Practices Guide Under Development Following the ICAT Roundtable held in September 2013, the ICAT Best Practices Work Team was established for the purpose of developing best practice protocols and resources to assist developing ICATs. Central to this has been the development of an ICAT Best Practices Guide that is being carried out by EVA BC/CCWS staff. In addition to the best practices, the guide will also include templates and sample forms.

PAGE 21 EVA BC NEWSLETTER / FALL 2014

Announcements

Core Trainings Coming Soon! Thanks to funding from Ministry of Justice, EVA BC will be able to provide a number of core trainings for Community-based Victim Services, STV Outreach and Multicultural Outreach and STV Counselling in early 2015. Look for training dates and registration information coming soon.

EVA TV Remember to check out EVA BC’s YouTube channel to find Be More Than a Bystander videos, keynote speakers from previous Annual Training Forums and more at www.youtube.com/user/endviolencebc

Upcoming Events 2014

November 20 – Transgender Day of Remembrance

November 25 – International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

November 25 to December 10 – 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence

December 1 – World AIDS Day

December 3 – International Day of Persons with Disabilities

December 6 – National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

December 10 – Human Rights Day

EVA BC Resources

All EVA BC resources are available on our website at endingviolence.org/research-publications: What Are Domestic Violence Interagency Case Assessment Teams and What Do They Do? This CCWS Information Bulletin, originally published in May 2014, was revised in September 2014.

Confidentiality for Sexual Assault Survivors under the Age of Nineteen: Based on information available as of April 2012, this CCWS Information Bulletin is intended to clarify some of the questions about legal and policy mandates and to aid discussion when developing community or agency protocols.

ERA BC – Guiding Principles 2005/2006: For Relationship Violence Treatment Programs plus 13 other fact sheets. Resource materials originally developed and distributed by the Ending Relationship Abuse Society of BC (ERA BC) dealing with relationship violence treatment programs, including assaultive men’s treatment. Due to the dissolution of ERA, their material is now housed on the EVA BC website to ensure its continued availability to workers in the field.

PAGE 22 EVA BC NEWSLETTER / FALL 2014

EVA BC BOARD OF DIRECTORS

REGION 1 – NORTH VANCOUVER ISLAND REGION 6 – OKANAGAN REGION 10 – NORTH CENTRAL Isabel McKinnon Suezan Kasper Bally Bassi, Co-Chair Community Based Victim Assistance Program STV Outreach Program Community Based Victim Assistance Program / Comox Valley Family Services Association Central Okanagan Elizabeth Fry Society Stopping the Violence Counselling Program/ 1415 Cliffe Ave, 104 – 347 Leon Avenue, STV Outreach Program Courtenay, BC V9N 2K6 Kelowna, BC V1Y 8C7 Prince George & District Elizabeth Fry Society Work Phone: 250-338-7575 ext. 224 Work Phone: 250-763-4613 ext 105 1575 – Fifth Avenue, Fax: 250-338-7601 Fax: 250-763-4272 Prince George, BC V2L 3L9 Work Email: [email protected] Work Email: [email protected] Work Phone: 250-563-1113 ext 108 Fax 250-563-8765 REGION 2 – SOUTH VANCOUVER ISLAND REGION 7 – EAST KOOTENAYS Work Email: [email protected] Cathy Welch Lendina Bambrick STV Counselling Program STV Outreach Program REGION 11 – NORTH EAST VACANT Cowichan Women Against Violence Society Box 237, 103 – 255 Ingram Street, Creston, BC V0B 1G0 FLOATING SEAT Duncan, BC V9L 1P3 Work Phone: 250-402-0068 (REGION 10 – North Central) Work Phone: 250-748-7000 Fax: 250-402-0067 Irene Willsie Fax: 250-748-9364 Work Email: [email protected] Stopping the Violence Counselling Program Work Email: [email protected] Contact Women’s Group Society REGION 8 – WEST KOOTENAYS P.O. Box 4094 REGION 3 – LOWER MAINLAND VACANT Sarah Bolton Williams Lake, BC V2G 2V2 Community Based Victim Assistance Program Work Phone:250-392-4118 REGION 4 – FRASER VALLEY VACANT The Advocacy Centre Fax: 250-392-4145 521 Vernon Street, Work Email:[email protected] REGION 5 – INTERIOR Nelson, BC V1L 4E9 Jan Seelinger Work Phone: 250-352-5777 Community Based Victim Services Fax: 250-352-5723 Shuswap Area Family Emergency (SAFE) Society Work Email: [email protected] P.O. Box 1463, Salmon Arm, BC V1E 4P6 REGION 9 – NORTH WEST Work Phone: 250-832-0005 Cheryl Rumley Fax: 250-832-0037 STV Counselling Program/ Work Email: [email protected] STV Outreach Program Tamitik Status of Women Association 350 – 370 City Centre, Kitimat BC V8C 1T6 Work Phone: 250-632-8787 Fax: 250-632-2022 Work Email: [email protected]

EVA BC STAFF COMMUNITY Tracy Porteous Joanne Baker COORDINATION Executive Director Research & Projects Manager FOR WOMEN’S [email protected] [email protected] SAFETY PROGRAM (Contact for all programs) Amy S. FitzGerald Gail Edinger Habiba Rashid Policy & Program Analyst Regional Coordinator Office Manager [email protected] 100 Mile House [email protected] Jessica Lee [email protected] • 250-397-2389 Harjit Kaur Administrative Assistant Debby Hamilton Program Manager [email protected] Regional Coordinator (contracted) [email protected] Beverley Jacobs Vernon (Contact for CBVS, Indigenous Communities Safety [email protected] • 778-475-6164 STV Counselling Project Consultant and STV/Multicultural Morgen Baldwin [email protected] Outreach Programs) Regional Coordinator (contracted) Val Wilkins [email protected] • 250-631-7897 Nancy Boyce Safe Choices Program Coordinator Communications Manager Gisela Ruebsaat [email protected] [email protected] Legal Analyst (contracted) Victoria [email protected] • 250-592-6073

PAGE 23 EVA BC NEWSLETTER / FALL 2014

EVA BC RESOURCES Building Partnerships to End Men Speak Up: Ending Violence Against Women: A Violence Together DVD and Practical Guide for Rural & Presentation Guide. Isolated Communities. Men in high-profile leadership Includes practical tips for positions from across BC speak building partnerships as well as a out about violence against section of exercises and handouts women in this groundbreaking that can be copied and used by non-partisan film. community groups.

Freedom From Violence: Tools You Are Not Alone: Violence, for Working With Trauma, Substance Use and Mental Mental Health & Substance Use. Health, A Peer Approach to In response to ongoing requests Increasing Safety. from frontline workers for A multimedia toolkit to gener ate materials on these topics, EVA BC discussions among women has created this comprehensive about safety. toolkit.

End Violence For The Dignity of Every Women Educational & Awareness Resource CD-ROM Kit. Educational materials for anti-violence programs to use in their communities. For a list of all EVA BC resources, please visit our website: < www .en din gvio lence.o rg >

Membership is available to provincially funded Community-Based Victim Services Programs, Stopping the Violence Counselling Programs, Stopping the Violence Are You an Outreach and Multicultural Outreach Programs, Sexual Assault Centres and other EVA BC Member? similar programs. Associate Memberships are also available. For more information , please visit our website at www.endingviolence.org/membership or call us at 604-633-2506 ext 10 or email [email protected]

Thanks to the following for supporting EVA BC projects and initiatives.

Status of Women Con dition féminine Canada C anada

We wish to thank the Ministry of Justice for its ongoing funding support.