Ending Violence Blog

Intimate Partner Sexual Violence is any form of sexual assault that takes place within an intimate relationship. It includes not only marital rape, but all other forms of sexual assault that take place within a current or former intimate relationship, whether the partners are married or not.

This article delves into the chilling reality of strangulation as a weapon of power and control, its physiological and psychological consequences, the blurred lines of consent in sexual contexts, and the urgent need to centre survivor voices in healthcare, advocacy, and policy responses. 

No relationship is perfect, but healthy intimate partner relationships make both people feel respected, supported, and safe. Healthy relationships are characterized by mutual respect, trust, equality and honesty. Here are some of the characteristics of healthy and unhealthy relationships.

We invite you to join us for International Women’s Day celebration events to honour women!

Access to $10-a-day child care is a critical lifeline for women fleeing violence, providing the stability they need to rebuild their lives while ensuring their children’s safety and well-being. As advocates call for a dedicated task force to advance affordable child care in British Columbia…

When a woman makes the courageous decision to leave an abusive home, she often does so with nothing but her children and the hope for a better future. The recently opened Synchronicity Second Stage Transition House Program is helping women and children move forward after violence.

In a healthy relationship, both people should feel completely at ease with the level of physical intimacy—whether it’s holding hands, kissing, touching, or having sex. One thing you should always have control over is how far you’re comfortable going with your romantic partner, crush, or even someone you’re casually seeing. Your voice matters, and you should never feel pressured into doing anything you don’t want to do.

This Valentine’s Day, we invited the community to share Love Letters for Survivors, and the response has been nothing short of inspirational.

This International Women’s Day week (March 5–9, 2025), join us for Workout for Women’s Day. This heartfelt initiative by Stronger Together Vancouver brings our community together to raise $15,000 for Battered Women’s Support Services (BWSS) to support women and children rebuilding their lives after violence.

On February 14, 2025, the 34th Annual Women’s Memorial March took place in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES), a haunting reminder that despite years of inquiries, reports, and so-called government commitments, Indigenous women, girls, and 2S individuals continue to go missing and be murdered at an alarming rate.

Global markets fluctuate. Tariffs rise and fall. Supply chains get disrupted. But local economies? They keep moving. When you choose to Buy Local, Buy Social, you’re investing in a resilient, self-sustaining economy—one that’s less vulnerable to external shocks and more focused on community strength, economic stability, and shared prosperity.

The Justice Centre at BWSS provides critical public legal education for frontline workers, legal advocates, and support workers assisting survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). Through education, advocacy, and systemic change, we aim to challenge the injustices embedded in the legal system and support survivors in using the law as a tool for safety, resistance, and justice.