workshop objectives 2 there are 7 broad workshop objectives, reflected in the 7 workshop modules

B.C./YukonSociety of TransitionHouses

BC Association ofSpecialized VictimAssistance &Counselling Programs

Workshop Objectives

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There are 7 broad workshop objectives, reflected in the 7 workshop modules.

CREATING CONTEXT

MODULE 1: Understanding Violence Against Women and Child Protection

MODULE 2: Mothering In The Context Of Violence Against Women

MODULE 3: Understanding Violence Against Women And Their Children

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APPROACHES

MODULE 4: Determining A Response To Woman Abuse And Child Protection

MODULE 5: Applying a Women-Centred Approach to Child Protection Investigations MODULE 6: Effective Ways to Protect Children and Youth

MODULE 7: Building Common Ground: Linking Protection and Safety

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MODULE 1 Creating Context

Understanding Violence Against Women and Child Protection

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Personal Learning Objectives

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Personal Safety

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The materials that will be explored may be highly charged.

Take care of your own well-being; be mindful of others in the training.

•active listening

•respectful communication

•consideration for differing perspectives

•honour confidentiality

Module 1 Learning Objectives

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Participants will:

•Feel safe to explore challenging concepts and practices related to child protection within the context of violence against women in relationships

•Understand rationale for development of the Best Practices Approaches and training

•Be introduced to the Best Practice Approaches

Best Practice ApproachesBackground

Developed by MCFD in response to concerns expressed by:

Child Protection WorkersFront-line Workers and Clinicians delivering

services to women experiencing abuse and children affected by witnessing abuse

An example of the concerns expressed was removing children while they were residing with their mother at a transition house.

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2000 Policy Paper outlining these issues submitted to

MCFD by Provincial Anti-Violence Organizations:

BC Association of Specialized Victim Assistance & Counselling Programs

BC/Yukon Society of Transition HousesBC Women’s Hospital’s Provincial Woman Abuse

Response Program BC Institute Against Family Violence

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Developing A Dialogue: A Preliminary Discussion Paper on Child Protection Issues in Cases Involving Violence Against Women and Children*

*www.endingviolence.org

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2000Meeting between provincial anti-violence

organizations and Director of Child Protection at MCFD

Agreement with the Director’s recommendation:

Collaborate with MCFD to jointly develop BEST PRACTICE APPROACHES for child protection interventions in violence against women cases.

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2001 Working Group Anti-Violence ExpertsChild Protection ExpertsMinistry of Children and Family DevelopmentMinistry of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s

ServicesMinistry of Public Safety and Solicitor General

2001 to 2004 Best Practice ApproachesDeveloped and made available to child protection

workers13


2006 – 2008 Best Practice Approaches Training

• MCFD allocated resources to develop training

• Opportunity for child protection workers to:

• Learn about Best Practice Approaches

• Learn how to apply Best Practice Approaches 14


Questions/Discussion

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Violence Against WomenDefining the Issue

Any act of gender-based violence that results in physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women.

United Nations Declaration on the

Elimination of Violence Against Women

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A pattern of intentionally coercive and violent behavior toward an individual with whom there is or has been an intimate relationship.

These behaviours can be used to establish control of an individual and can include physical and sexual abuse; psychological abuse with verbal intimidation, progressive social isolation, or deprivation; and economic control.

Domestic Violence in Women El-Bayoumi, Borum, Haywood

Medical Clinics of North America17


Abusive Tactics Include BUT are not limited to:

VerbalThreats, yelling, insultsMentalUsing tactics to convince her that she is crazy or

stupidEmotionalUsing guilt and other strategies to make her think

that she’s a bad mother/partner/person. Ignoring her or using jealousy to control her.

SexualPreventing choice about sex, birth control or STI

protection. Withholding sexual affection18


PhysicalHitting, choking, kicking, use of weapons FinancialControlling the decisions about finances, not

allowing her to access money or bank accountsSpiritualBelittling her religion, keeping her from practicing

her faith CulturalBelittling her culture, racial insultsSocialIsolating her from friends or family, controlling her

whereabouts and who she can associate with19


Other forms of inequality and oppression which include poverty, colonization, racism, heterosexism, and ableism intersect with gender to

shape experiences of women in abusive relationships

reduce appropriate servicesincrease risks

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The impact is significant—isolation,

degradation of self, fear, and loss of autonomy—which further entrap women in the relationship.

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The greatest danger women face is when they try to leave, or otherwise challenge their partners’ authority.

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Human rights violations internationally perpetrated differently against women

Women represent the overwhelming majority of abuse survivors.

Power inequalities and dynamics within gender relations results in abuse that disproportionately affects women.

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Violence Against WomenGlobal Issues

The many manifestations of gender based violence point to:

the significant role that social norms, gender roles, and social and political institutions play in legitimizing and therefore perpetuating woman abuse, in addition to contributing to women’s vulnerability to abuse.

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Violence Against WomenGlobal Issues

Research on rates of woman abuse has played a vital role in establishing the seriousness of the issue worldwide, although results do not adequately reflect the complex nature of woman abuse.

Researchers recommend complementing quantitative studies with research that looks at the experiences of victims.

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Violence Against WomenHow Common Is It?

AT LEAST

One in three women will experience abuse in an 'intimate' relationship at some point in their adult lives.

One in ten women is experiencing abuse during any given year.

Violence Against Women Survey. 1993, Statistics Canada: Ottawa.

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Thus, in an average year in Canada, it is estimated that about 200,000 women are threatened, slapped, kicked, punched, choked, beaten, or sexually assaulted by their partners.

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Over 2.6 million Canadian women have experienced physical or sexual assault.

Johnson, H. (1996) Dangerous Domains: Violence Against Women In Canada

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More than twice as many women as men reported being beaten

5 times as many women as men reported being choked

Almost twice as many women as men reported having a gun or knife used against them

More than 6 times as many women as men reported being sexually assaulted

1999 General Social Survey on Spousal Violence - Canada 29


98% of sexual assaults and 86% of violent crimes are committed by men

Women constitute 98% of spousal violence victims of sexual assault, kidnapping or hostage taking

80% of victims of criminal harassment are women while 90% of the accused are men

1999 General Social Survey on Spousal Violence - Canada 30


Women victimized in greater numbers, severity of violence greater:

65% assaulted more than once 26% assaulted more than 10 times40 % of women compared to 13% of men

physically injured as a result of the violenceWomen 5 times more likely than men to

require medical attention as a result of the violence

1999 General Social Survey on Spousal Violence - Canada31


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Violence Against WomenImpact on Children and

Youth

Children and youth witness woman abuse if they see it, are used by the violent parent, hear the violence, or experience its aftermath such as the arrest or hospitalization of a parent.

Edleson, J. (1999) Children’s Witnessing of Adult Domestic Violence

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YouthCan witness or be impacted by woman abuse by:

Seeing a mother assaulted or demeanedHearing loud conflict and violenceSeeing the aftermath (e.g., injuries)Learning about what happened to a mother

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Youth

Can witness or be impacted by woman abuse by:

Being used by an abusive parent as part of the abuse

Seeing a father abuse his new partner when they visit him on weekends

Being denied what is owed them for child support

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YouthMay be “used” by an abusive parent by:

Claiming that the children’s and/or youth’s bad behaviour is the reason for the violence

Encouraging the children and/or youth to abuse the other parent

Threatening violence against the children and/or their pets

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Youth

Engaging the child and/or youth in negative discussion about their mother

Prolonged custody and access proceedings when abuser has previously shown little interest in the children

Holding the children hostage or abducting them in an effort to punish the victim or gain compliance

Baker, Jaffe and Moore (2001) Understanding the Effects of Domestic Violence

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YouthPrevalence of children or youth who

witness abuse

40% and 80% of children in families where violence against women occurs are exposed to the abuse either by seeing it or by overhearing it.

3 to 5 children or youth in every Canadian school classroom have witnessed their mother being assaulted.

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YouthThose who witness physical

violence to their mother usually also witness psychological abuse

Between 1999 and 2004, children of approximately 34,500 BC women were exposed to woman abuse

On any given day in Canada about 2500 children live with mothers in shelters for abused women

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Violence Against WomenWomen-Centred

Approach

Providing women-centred services is fundamental to women’s empowerment and safety.

This approach is not in conflict with a child protection approach.

Recognizes women’s safety is an important factor in the safety and protection of their children.

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ApproachKey Aspects:

recognize and build on a woman’s strengths

recognize women’s safety strategies

develop a trusting and respectful relationship

respect her ability to make choices within legal limits

provide services that are accessible from her perspective

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Approach

respect cultural diversity recognize that all forms of marginalization

affect women’s experiences and may limit options

counter stereotypes about violence and specific groups

provide interpretation services that allow safe discussion about her experiences

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Approach

support ‘solutions’ that respect and account for women’s cultural and religious values

build resources with women and the larger community

engage in a collaborative approach with anti-violence women’s organizations and other systems

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ApproachA woman’s past may influence the way she interacts with child protection services:

Removal from her family - child protection services, residential schools or foster care.

Experiencing further abuse after removal.

State harassment, police brutality, investigation and interrogation - particularly immigrant and refugee women, aboriginal women, poor women, women who use alcohol or drugs, and women in the sex trade.

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Approach

Past experiences can lead to mistrust and fear of people in positions of power and authority

This mistrust and fear should be understood in the context of women’s lives and social history.

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Approach

using her experience to

guide her decisions and

protect her from further harm

Reframe judgements:

•uncooperative•non-compliant •difficult

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ApproachIf a child protection worker’s intervention

leads to the decision that the non-abusing woman is not able to protect her children from the abuser:

Understand a woman’s reasons for returning to or remaining with an abusive partner

Do not blame a woman if it appears that she has “chosen” her partner over her children

Do not punish the woman by withholding access to her children

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Approach

Continue to work with the woman to help her create a safe environment for herself and her children

Develop a service plan independent of her partner, ensure that she is not treated as the perpetrator.

Offer anti-violence community services*

*should not be offered in a way that is coercive or punitive - e.g. a woman will be allowed access to her children if she attends mandatory counselling sessions.

workshop objectives 2 there are 7 broad workshop objectives, reflected in the 7 workshop modules

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