Ending Violence Blog

Will you make a gift today to help us reach our $80,000 goal and ensure we can continue to be a lifeline for women living with violence?

Based on research conducted in 2023 with frontline workers and victims-survivors across BC, this report provides a crucial examination of protection orders and peace bonds, exposing systemic barriers that compromise victim-survivors’ safety and offering actionable solutions.

The housing continuum for victim-survivors of violence in British Columbia highlights the spectrum of housing options, ranging from the least stable to the most stable.

At BWSS, we recognize that ending gender-based violence begins with a safe home with a program designed to transform the impacts of intimate partner violence. That’s why BWSS is proud to introduce Synchronicity: Second-Stage Transition House Program—a new and critical program that offers survivors more than just a safe place to live.

Every night in BC, women fleeing violence are forced to sleep in their cars because there’s nowhere else to go. With shelters full and housing unaffordable, they face a devastating choice: return to an abusive partner or risk homelessness. This 16 Days of Activism and Economic Abuse Day, let’s talk about invisible homelessness because women deserve better. 

Together, we have been making waves for 45 years, so thank you for your solidarity with victims. Your quiet and generous support from behind the scenes is the spark that fuels our ability to end intimate partner violence for thousands of survivors’ lives. We are so grateful to be with you in this effort.

Why does ending gender-based violence begin with a safe home? Because for so many, the violence victim-survivors experience isn’t in public—it’s behind closed doors, where it should never occur: at home. A home is supposed to be a sanctuary, a place of comfort and security. But when that safety is absent, where do you go? 

During the #16DaysofActivism, please take action with us. So stay connected on our social media, media and email as we share information, resources and ways to participate in ending violence against women and gender-based violence.

As the holiday season approaches, we know it can bring both joy and stress. For many women and families impacted by violence and abuse, this time of year is especially challenging, as they navigate financial pressures, isolation, and the desire to create a joyful holiday for their children.

The Justice Centre at BWSS is hosting a vital conference, In Pursuit of Justice!: Taking Action on Violence Against Women and Gender-Based Violence, to examine the pressing legal, social, and political challenges that perpetuate violence against women and gender-diverse people.

When your loved one reaches out to you in distress, sharing the hurtful things their partner has said or done, it can be heartbreaking to see them stay in the relationship. As their abusive partner’s actions intensifies, you notice your loved one becoming more distant and increasingly unhappy. Despite your attempts to express your concerns, you feel like you can’t make a difference or impact, leaving you feeling frustrated and powerless…

At BWSS, we honour Gisèle Pelicot’s extraordinary bravery in sharing her story publicly. Gisèle’s voice stands as a testament to the resilience of victim-survivors of gender-based violence and highlights the urgent need for change so that survivors are heard, believed, and supported within the legal system.