BWSS -Safety Changes Everything

Battered Women’s Support Services (BWSS) was founded in 1979 by five women and 40 years later, BWSS remains committed to ending gender-based violence through our direct services: crisis line, support services, support groups, counselling, employment program and a legal advocacy program. We respond to 11,000 requests annually with specialized services for Indigenous, Latin American, Black, and self-identified women. BWSS currently has 20 staff and over 100 volunteers working in all aspects of support, advocacy and prevention.

Part of a global feminist anti-violence movement, our long-term goal is the elimination of gender-based violence. We work towards systemic change through advocacy and awareness raising initiatives.


 

 

Peephole

Every year more than 30,000 women and children are affected by intimate partner violence in British Columbia, with one woman killed every week in Canada. On November 2nd, 2018, BWSS built an interactive Transit Shelter Advertisement (TSA) that allowed the public to step into the shoes of a woman experiencing violence by their intimate partner.

 

 

Home Sweet Home

For thousands of women and their children across Canada there is no “Home Sweet Home”. After studying decades of domestic violence homicides, BWSS has found that the vast majority of women who died were not connected to a community advocate.

 

 

Some Men Break More than Hearts

In BC, an average of 232 women per year are admitted to a B.C. hospital for severe injuries from intimate partner violence. BWSS initiative #SomeMenBreakMoreThanHearts is designed to raise awareness of violence against trans/women and non-binary folks in intimate relationships, and provide resource kit to family physicians throughout B.C. to help doctors better identify and respond to those who may be experiencing violence in their intimate relationship. Because violence in relationships is a health issue.

 

Resources for LGBTQ2S and non-binary survivors of violence

BWSS recognizes that despite its absence in common media and anti-violence information, same gender and same sex abuse is widespread and prevalent. It is a reality in our communities and may be confusing to identify. BWSS is committed to facing this reality and providing relevant services and support for lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, queer, transgender, two-spirit, and non-binary survivors of violence.

 

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