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Colour of Violence

Dec 8, 2022

> Colour of Violence
“Colour of Violence: Race, Gender & Anti-Violence Services”

Colour of Violence

Multi-year research and publicity campaign

2021, 2022

This multi-year community-based research project examines the intersections of race and gender for Black, Indigenous, migrant/refugee, racialized women and gender diverse people experiencing gender-based violence in British Columbia.

Placing racialized survivors at the center of anti-violence work, Colour of Violence sought to better understand and raise awareness on the experiences of Indigenous, Black, newcomer immigrant/refugee, and racialized survivors accessing gender-based violence services in British Columbia (B.C).

BWSS conducted surveys with over 100 survivors, focus groups with anti-violence workers of colour, and a held a series of webinars and in-person public events.

BWSS colour of violence project explores systemic responses gender based violence
Save the date and join Battered Women’s Support Services for a webinar
Youth Survivors and Dating Violence: Let’s all Recognize the Signs
Colour of Violence 2022 online event
Colour of Violence 2022 in-person community event

Campaign Impact

The campaign received outstanding media coverage and shares through social media

Campaign Outcomes

9

Campaign shared widely on social media

9

We had 200 attendees at our 2021 webinar and over 600 attendees at our 2022 webinar.

9

30 people attended our 2021 gathering and our 2022 in-person gathering had 100 attendees.

9

Increased awareness about the experiences of Indigenous, Black, newcomer immigrant/refugee, and racialized survivors accessing gender-based violence services in British Columbia (B.C).

9

Report, toolkit, and flipbook show how racialized survivors are not only subject to higher probabilities of gender-based violence, but also face structural barriers in accessing safety and support from violence.

Launching “Colour of Violence: Race, Gender & Anti-Violence Services”

Free from violence

Nov 25, 2021

> Free from violence
It takes everything we've got to be free from violence

Free from violence

Public awareness campaign

2021

In 2021 for International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and the 16 Days of Activism to end Gender-based Violence we shared this information—Let’s all Recognize the Signs.

The campaign taught the public how to recognize the signs of intimate partner violence, how to help, and ways to safely check in with someone in an abusive relationship—such as a family member, a co-worker, a neighbour, or member of our community.

After over 40 years of listening firsthand and assisting victims and survivors, we know how intimate partner violence, sexualized violence, and emotional abuse happens routinely within the privacy of their home—hidden from public view.

We called on everyone to collectively make sure that community based services such as BWSS are available to assist survivors of violence because they tell us that they feel safer going to anti-violence organizations rather than calling authorities including the police.

The campaign also provided resources including interactive, personalised safety planning tools, a toolkit called “How do I help my friend?”, and invited survivors, victims, and allies to share what signs they look for.

How can I help my friend? PDF resource
Signal for help, step 1
Signal for help, step 2
Signal for help, step 3

Campaign Impact

The campaign received outstanding media coverage and shares through social media

This campaign was featured in these media outlets

As seen in the Vancouver Courier
As seen in News1130

Campaign Outcomes

9

Campaign was shared widely on social media

9

Increased awareness about how to recognize the signs of intimate partner violence, how to help, and ways to safely check in with someone in an abusive relationship

9

Increased access to physical and digital resources and safety planning tools for victims and survivors.

Thank you