Be the Peace Institute

October 18th is Persons Day in Canada and commemorates the day, in 1929 when some women were finally included the legal definition of “persons” by the Canadian government. This status allowed some women the right to be appointed to the Senate of Canada as one step toward women's increased participation in our decision-making structures. However, women as “persons” did not include Indigenous women and women of Asian heritage and descent. And we still have a long way to go before we have equal participation from women, gender diverse and racially and culturally diverse candidates across all levels of government. Canada has slid to 62nd in the world for gender parity in politics in recent years and researchers believe this is because of the increased harassment, abuse and violence that diverse candidates experience on and off the campaign trail. We are hearing from those who have had these experiences, are women, gender/racially diverse and have considered running or have run – please share your voice in this survey created with our colleagues across the sector - “Safety on the Campaign Trail”: https://bit.ly/3BNFC0s Transition House Association of Nova Scotia (THANS) YWCA Halifax Immigrant Migrant Women's Association of Halifax Second Story Women's Centre South Shore Sexual Health Harbour House October 18th is ALSO the eve of our Municipal Elections in NS - don't forget to VOTE!

Be the Peace Institute, along with many of our colleagues across the gender-based violence (GBV) sector, have created a needs assessment survey for Nova Scotia’s GBV sector. This survey was developed by the GBV Sector-Coordination Working Group, which was formed in response to the recognition that women’s organizations in the non-profit GBV sector face similar challenges but too often work in isolation. Our goal is to build coalitions and foster mutual support among professionals working in the sector. Your feedback will guide future advocacy efforts and help strengthen collaboration across the province. In addition, we are exploring the potential development of a GBV Innovation Lab—a space where community, government, and academia can work together to drive systemic change. The Working Group may serve as the foundation for this lab. This survey is anonymous, however you may provide contact information for follow-up in a separate survey at the end if you wish. The voices of those working within the GBV sector in Nova Scotia are essential to shaping the future of GBV services in our province. Thank you for your time, and we look forward to hearing from you! Please share among your networks. Please take a few moments to share your insights: https://lnkd.in/e75SrbV3 Transition House Association of Nova Scotia (THANS) Avalon Sexual Assault Centre YWCA Halifax Kristina Fifield Trauma Therapy & Consulting

As elections at all levels of government in NS draw near, we have been strategizing with our colleagues across the gender-based violence (GBV) sector to better understand and raise awareness on the particular issues that come up for those running for office or after election - who are women, gender non binary, 2SLGBTQQIA+, and racially and culturally diverse. For many, as they knock on doors campaigning or engage online with constituents, as they work in their elected positions, or even on their doorsteps, there are rising levels of harassment, threats, abuse, and even violence for people from specific populations. This is not only - not ok - on a human rights and safety level, it is a threat to our democratic processes. Without diversity in government, we are not understanding or addressing the needs of everyone in our communities. For more info on this topic and to see some stats, strategies, tips and resources - check out the attached slides. And please consider filling out or sharing our survey on this very topic! bit.ly/3BNFC0s #nsmunicipalelections #EndGBV

**Safety on the Campaign Trail Survey Launch!** Please consider participating in this anonymous survey if relevant and please share with others who might have a story to share. Read on for more information! ***************************************************************** Be the Peace Institute has a mandate to advance gender equity and justice and we have been gathering with other organizations in the gender-based violence (GBV) sector to talk about the upcoming Municipal and other elections, about safety for those running for or in elected office.    We know that women, gender diverse, racially and culturally diverse people are regularly targeted by sexist and racist harassment, rhetoric and sometimes threats, when they run for office. This sometime dissuades them from running at all and can put them in danger when they do.    Together we want to raise awareness about sexual harassment, misogyny and racism in the political process and have created an anonymous survey to collect stories or excerpts from those who have experienced it.      If you are someone who has run for public office in Nova Scotia, is currently in public office or has been dissuaded from running because of these gendered and discriminatory dynamics, we are interested in hearing about your experiences.     The survey is completely anonymous, but if you want to join us in some advocacy to end this unacceptable practice and restore civility to promote diversity in the political process, you can share your contact information at the end of the survey.    Please consider sharing this with others who may have a story to contribute.   If you are able to respond by October 15th, we would like to have some data before the municipal election. The survey will stay open until November 1st.   Thank you in advance for considering sharing your story! Transition House Association of Nova Scotia (THANS) Second Story Women's Centre South Shore Sexual Health Harbour House Immigrant Migrant Women's Association of Halifax YWCA Halifax Link to survey: https://lnkd.in/eyy9Udbz

September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada to honour survivors of residential schools and remember the many children who did not survive, and the families and communities indelibly affected. The day offers opportunity to commemorate and reflect on how this painful practice persisted for 100 years. It is an opportunity to learn and to act in accordance with the Treaties of Peace and Friendship, and in truth and reconciliation for the disgraceful legacy of harm perpetrated against Indigenous nations by stealing their children. We have much work to do. In Canada we are told that 85% of the TRC Calls to Action are either complete or well under way. However, as of January 1, 2024, according to Indigenous Watchdog, only 11 of those Calls to Action are complete and 39 are in progress. That represents only 66% of the Calls to Action. And to date only two of the 231 Calls for Justice from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls have been completed — and more than half haven’t been started. When we share our recommendations for systemic change related to gender-based violence to decision makers, we advocate for culturally responsive services and supports in all our communities and measures to eliminate the social, economic, cultural, and political marginalization of Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people. We continue to advance our allyship quest by amplifying voices often silenced, applying an intersectional, anti-oppressive lens to our research and recommendations, inviting those missing from decision making tables and continuing our learning journey on our role in reconciliation and healing. We honour and value those who have taken the time to teach us on that journey. #NDTR #Everychildmatters

Thanks to Transition House Association of Nova Scotia (THANS) for this report on NS Municipal elections and how to better address gender-based violence at this level of government. NS has Municipal elections October 19th.

A step in the right direction - but bystander training needs to be mandatory in all high schools, and even earlier. As we learned in our #GBVKnowledgeSynthesis project from the Mass Casualty Commission & other reports, ending #GBV takes a collective response focused on early prevention and safe intervention. Thank you to all of the Sexual Violence Coordinators in universities and colleges across NS working to address GBV.

Some upcoming events hosted by Can't Buy My Silence on the misuse and abuse of NDAs including the Silencing Survivors is Violence panel on September 23. Check out the attached posters for info. You can also sign a federal petition for the Government of Canada to pass legislation banning the misuse of NDAs in cases of harassment, violence or discrimination: https://lnkd.in/gsmnTP-x

The province of Nova Scotia has finally declared domestic violence as an epidemic. This is significant after former Justice Minister Brad Johns dismissed it as an issue and the Premier himself only hours before the bill’s passage determined it was not necessary. But this declaration is not only important symbolically but will be a foothold for advocates, decision makers and other levels of government to help prioritize gender based violence as the major human rights violations and public health and community safety emergency that it is. Some data has Nova Scotia at the highest intimate partner violence rates in Canada! It is a clear recommendation from the Mass Casualty Commission and this urgency and attention is something so many in this sector and survivors have been advocating for decades. We want to thank the brave determination of those who pushed for this declaration. It is not the solution but it is a clear step toward resolution of #GBV. https://lnkd.in/dkwdHMV7

Still time to register for the Can't Buy My Silence panel on the misuse of #NDAs in cases of #GBV.