Ending Gender-Based Violence
Every day, people in our community face violence because of their gender, gender expression or gender identity. Gender-based violence is a public health crisis that requires immediate and collective action at all levels.
YWCA Metro Vancouver is working towards a future that is free from gender-based violence.
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It’s a human rights violation. Everyone has the right to live free from violence and abuse.
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It costs women their lives. A woman or girl is killed every other day in Canada because of their gender.
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It intersects with other forms of oppression. Gender-based violence disproportionately impacts Indigenous women and girls, 2SLGBTQIA+ people and women living with disabilities.
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It has long-term, intergenerational effects on children who witness abuse.
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It’s pervasive. One in two women say they’ve experienced at least one incident of physical or sexual violence since the age of 16.
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It’s costly. Gender-based violence costs taxpayers and the government billions of dollars each year.
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We challenge attitudes and social norms that perpetuate violence or impose gender roles through public education and awareness building.
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We engage business, community and government leaders to change policy and practices and strengthen legislation related to gender-based violence.
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We advocate for changes to the justice system to better serve people who have experienced gender-based violence.
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We partner with government and other organizations to research the impacts of gender-based violence and find innovative solutions to end it.
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We provide a range of services and supports for self-identified women who have experienced violence, and children who have witnessed abuse.
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We provide other critical supports, such as safe, affordable housing, early learning and child care and opportunities for training and employment to support women on their path to personal and economic security.
Join our advocacy
47% of BC women reported experiencing any form of gender-based violence, including psychological, emotional, financial, physical or sexual. (Source: Statscan)
We are advocating for municipal and provincial governments in British Columbia to declare Gender-based violence the epidemic that it already is.
