News Envisioning an Alberta Free From Violence and Abuse Envisioning an Alberta Free From Violence and Abuse July 25, 2023 Recommendations from the Victims and Survivors of Crime Week 2023 Visioning Session In May 2023, during Victims and Survivors of Crime Week, ACWS held a survivor-centered event initiated by the ACWS Survivor Advisory Committee. This visioning session brought together leaders from government, non-profit, health, legal, and business sectors together with domestic violence survivors for a facilitated collaborative visioning session. This conversation explored finding a shared understanding of the realities of domestic violence and abuse, and envisioning meaningful solutions to the barriers survivors face. The goal is to initiate systemic changes in the sectors that have a substantial impact on survivors’ safety and wellbeing. The following is a summary of the recommendations from that session. Downloadable PDF: Victims and Survivors of Crime Week Visioning Session Recommendations What would it look like for every survivor to get the supports they need? All survivors are safe to leave abusive relationships. The intersectional nature of domestic violence and abuse is widely acknowledged and addressed. Strategies to address and end domestic violence and abuse and supports for survivors are attentive to intersecting issues, including gender, race, colonialism, sexuality, disability, socioeconomic status, and citizenship, and more. There is a clear and effective roadmap to safety and support for all survivors. There are clear and effective roads to safety and support that go along with the roadmap. Long-term, trauma-informed, wraparound care is available to all survivors. Trauma-informed training about domestic violence and abuse is available to all survivors. Support is available for all children who are exposed to domestic violence and abuse. Survivors are supported in building and sustaining healthy relationships with their children. Domestic violence shelters are funded and resourced to provide comprehensive support to all survivors who reach out for help. There are enough second and third stage domestic violence shelters available for all survivors who need them. Survivors actively participate in efforts to address and end domestic violence and abuse. Abusers receive effective intervention that addresses their behavior and prevents future acts of abuse—in a timely manner. Abusers acknowledge and are accountable for their behavior. There is a broad public recognition of the continuum of domestic violence and abuse. All communities are engaged in addressing and preventing domestic violence and abuse. There is a sweat lodge in every community. Communities provide spaces for survivors to stay safe and to heal from violence and abuse. Businesses and corporations are engaged in addressing and preventing domestic violence and abuse, and in supporting survivors. Law enforcement is safe and supportive for all survivors who choose to engage with it. All survivors have access to free and effective legal representation. All branches of government are engaged in addressing and preventing domestic violence and abuse. Governments are accountable for the money they spend addressing and preventing domestic violence and abuse. There is shared community accountability, funding, and resources for addressing and preventing domestic violence and abuse. There is healthy and effective collaboration to address domestic violence and abuse across all systems. Men and boys stand up against domestic violence and abuse. Women are allies to each other. No survivor feels the need to hide their abuse. No survivor feels ashamed. What can we do to help make this vision a reality? Address the role sexism, colonialism, racism, heteronormativity, ableism, sizeism, classism, xenophobia, and other forms of social injustice play in domestic violence and abuse. Decolonize social systems and structures. Reframe family violence as a health issue. Publicize and focus on the strengths of domestic violence and abuse survivors. Establish specialized, integrated domestic violence and abuse courts, with intensive intersectional domestic violence and abuse education for lawyers and judges. Establish programs where the government pays for legal representation for survivors. Establish administrative tribunals to oversee government spending on, and responses to, domestic violence and abuse. Require that all politicians undergo experiential training about domestic violence and abuse. Enact stronger laws against domestic violence and abuse that more effectively hold abusers accountable. Reimagine the criminal legal system. Reimagine the government systems and services that respond to domestic violence and abuse, especially the child welfare system. Talk to kids! Children have their own voices, experiences, and needs that must be taken into account when addressing domestic violence and abuse. Educate children about domestic violence, abuse, and healthy relationships from a young age. Invest in empowerment education and programming for girls and gender minorities. Provide education for parents about domestic violence and abuse, as well as the role that traditional gender norms and intersecting oppressions play in domestic violence and abuse. Provide sustainable funding for domestic violence shelters and other organizations that support survivors and their children. Provide leadership training for mothers. Healing mothers heals children and communities! Conduct widespread public education campaigns about the continuum of domestic violence and abuse, and the many forms of domestic violence and abuse. Conduct widespread public education campaigns challenging shame and judgment around domestic violence and abuse. Establish and maintain adequate financial support for survivors. Ensure that survivors are able to access the fleeing abuse fund regularly—at least once a year. Engage men and boys in addressing and preventing domestic violence and abuse. Work towards timely change. Bring domestic violence and abuse out of the dark. Cast a light on the realities of the problem. Who is responsible for making change? Everyone! Mothers and other parents Men and boys Governments—under international conventions, governments are responsible for addressing domestic violence and abuse Businesses Society—it is crucial that society understands and acknowledges the value of survivors Community leaders Sports teams
