What can I do to stop violence against women

To stop violence and harm in our communities, we need to encourage more adult men, youth and boys to embrace their roles allies.

An ally is someone who has a genuine commitment to looking at one’s own attitudes, beliefs and behaviours, and is committed to change. Allies take action to promote gender equality and prevent violence in our communities by learning how to demonstrate and promote healthy expressions of masculinity.

An ally speaks up when they believe someone needs support, whether they are sharing words of encouragement to help someone who is having a hard time or speaking out against violence in their community by calling their neighbours, friends and families into a safe space to address harmful behaviours and share positive alternatives. Allies check-in with survivors in their lives to see how they can best provide support and follow up on their commitments.

An ally breaks their silence.

If you believe someone is living in an abusive environment, do not ignore your gut feeling. Here's what you can do.

Believe

Believe her when she says she has experienced harm. And, thank her for trusting you and telling you.

Educate

Educate yourself on the needs of survivors. There may be challenges you do not know that could be preventing her from seeking the support she needs, for example:

She may not feel comfortable accessing support in French or English, and that’s okay. There are organizations that offer support in many other languages, including Arabic.
She may not know these services exist or believe she can access support because she may not know her legal status or her rights.
She may be feeling isolated and alone because of the harm and abuse she might have experienced. These feelings get worse without counselling or the support of family and friends who may be far away. There are support services she can access and activities she can participate in to meet new people. So, she feels less alone.

Understand her situation so you can give her the information, services and support she needs to make the right decision for her.

Support

Find the right supports for her and her children, if she has any. She will need to make a safety plan and she will need somewhere safe to stay. There are services that can help.

Tell

Tell her you support her choices and decisions no matter what she decides to do. She will need your support, so make sure you communicate your support often and ongoing.

We have a list of services that you can share with her based on her needs. If you do not know what she needs, ask her.

Does she need:

Employment or Legal Assistance?

To seek job opportunities and information about recognition of foreign credentials, this is crucial for both economic empowerment and financial stability; especially in cases where women might be at risk of domestic violence and might not have a job.

Interval House can provide assistance with job searching, resume writing, interview skills.
Locations in Toronto, Hamilton and Muskoka