Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario ’s Post

In our #GBVKnowledgeSynthesis project with Women's Centres Connect we read and synthesized some key GBV-related reports and a key recommendation across reports was that investment and priority need to shift away from carceral responses to GBV toward a public health prevention approach encompassing prevention, early intervention, response, and recovery and healing. GBV is not resolved well by the criminal justice system, often retraumatizing and adversarial. Systemic racism, bias and stereotyping in courtrooms contribute to low reporting, victim blaming and over incarceration of Indigenous and marginalized populations. Legislation, training and responses need to continue to evolve but greater investment in prevention is more impactful to shifting GBV rates and ensuring better responses. Addressing poverty, safety strategies, and the availability of services and supports are all part of GBV prevention but so is ensuring those services can respond to the complexities of GBV for survivors and perpetrators across all populations, particularly marginalized. The GBV sector can inform prevention efforts by training law enforcement, legal and health care professionals, educators, child protection workers, & others on: • Challenging gender norms, unhealthy masculinities & trans/homophobia • Consent, healthy relationships • Bystander interventions • Victim-blaming & hyper-responsbilization • Warning signs and risk factors for GBV • Unique barriers and needs of diverse survivors of GBV #gbvknowledgesynthesis

Such important work that shows clearly that "investment and priority need to shift away from carceral responses to GBV toward a public health prevention approach encompassing prevention, early intervention, response, and recovery and healing." YES. We need investment in these areas to address what is such a significant issue in our province, and across the country.

Today we are hosting a difficult yet much needed session addressing the impact of female genital mutilation experience by the women in our communities. This event will take place from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM, and our subject matter expert is Dr. Kemi Amodu. FGM is a severe form of gender-based violence, physical assault, and a human rights violation rooted in patriarchal violence. It has no place in our culture, faith, religion, or spirituality. So, let's come together to raise this awareness and work towards its eradication. This awareness also includes the gaps within the Healthcare systems in supporting victims that are survivors of FGM. Lastly, we will also discuss the importance of communities that are direct recipients of this form of gender-based violence and assaults be the center of leading these sensitive discussions, and it cannot come from individuals that are politically using it as a rhetoric to demonize and further isolate the same communities and victims that stands firmly against this form of gender-based violence perpetrated on women and girls. Reserve your spot by scanning the QR code or visiting https://bit.ly/446NhkD #EndGBV #HealthAdvocacy #BlackWomensHealth #FGM #EndFGM #GenderbasedViolence #BlackHealth #BlackHealthInitiative

On #IndigenousPeoplesDay, we reflect on the impacts of colonialism, including the widespread violence in Native communities. Native women experience intimate partner violence, sexual violence, and stalking at alarming rates, often by non-Native perpetrators. The lasting effects of colonization, along with a complex legal framework that limits the prosecution of offenders, continue to undermine the safety of victims, leading to intergenerational trauma and vulnerability. The Mitchell Museum of the American Indian sheds light on these issues with its exhibition No Rest: The Epidemic of Stolen Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirits, which honors the lives of #Indigenouswomen and two-spirit individuals through art and storytelling. This exhibition aligns with the MMIWG2S movement, which raises awareness and addresses the lack of response to missing or murdered Native women, girls, and two-spirit individuals. Explore more about the movement and exhibition details: https://bit.ly/4h6GxJJ

Isabel S. from Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin presented the stepto.support platform they are developing in #2PS with the support of Ianus Consulting, Timelex, Deep Blue and University of Bergen (UiB). The platform's goal is to help people interested in children find support services. The platform will guide them to find the nearest and trustworthy support services to help in their treatment journey. The platform takes into consideration the user needs to create an efficient platform that can help the prevention of child sexual abuse before it occurs. The needs stepto.support addresses are anonymity, information about privacy and data, user-friendly features, transparency, quick exit option, information for urgent situations and testimonials who have already used the platform and services. #2PSproject #stopchildabuse #SparksInTheDark #CounteringCSAE #UnitedAgainstCSAE #ChildSafety #ProtectChildren

Yet, pathways & collateral consequences of incarcerating women different than men, considering that two-thirds of incarcerated women are mothers & primary caregivers for young children. NJRC Women's Report & Resource Manual directs to NJRC partners. https://bit.ly/4bbheT3

Bringing #GenAI to the Kitchen Table: The most precious and innocent demographic of our society are children. As I talk with colleagues that serve as caseworkers, and child protection they all share their alarming reality of the extreme number of case loads, and strain on resources. In this #usingtechforgood example, we're discussing using GenAI to enhance and optimize how government entities can expedite and increase quality of serving our most innocent population: Children. Read the blog: https://accntu.re/3znq6HK #GenAI #PublicService #ResponsibleAI #GovTech

Have you ever felt small, not because you are, but because the world made you fit into boxes you never built? Have you ever smiled just to stay safe, or stayed quiet just to avoid a fight? Have you ever carried the weight of a "No," because "No" didn’t feel safe to say? What if I tell you that was a form of Gender-Based Violence(GBV)? Yes! Knowing what GBV is, is important for several reasons, especially in the context of advocacy, public health, and societal development: 🎗️ Understanding GBV helps individuals, communities, and institutions recognize different forms of violence (physical, emotional, sexual, or economic) and their impact. This awareness is essential to prevent abuse and promote safer environments. 🎗️ Knowledge enables victims to identify abusive situations, seek help, and access support systems, such as shelters, legal aid, or counseling services. It also fosters self-advocacy and informed decision-making. 🎗️ GBV disproportionately affects women, men, girls, boys, and marginalized groups. Knowing what GBV is allows individuals and institutions to challenge harmful gender norms, stereotypes, and structural inequalities. 🎗️ Policymakers, healthcare providers, and social workers need to understand GBV to develop targeted interventions and policies that address the root causes and offer meaningful support to survivors. 🎗️ GBV is often hidden due to shame, fear, or cultural norms. Raising awareness helps break the silence and reduces the stigma associated with survivors, encouraging more people to speak out. 🎗️ Recognizing GBV promotes collective responsibility to intervene and hold perpetrators accountable, encouraging bystanders to take action and support victims. 🎗️GBV is a silent global pandemic stealing futures, stifling voices, and building walls between hope and healing. 🎗️But it’s not unbeatable.With every voice raised, every hand held, every fight for justice, we chip away at the chains, moving closer to a world where every human is safe! #GBV #HumanRights #GBVAdvocate #SRHR #notogenderbasedvoilence

This important report, hot off the press as of April 2024 by Population Institute, highlights practices that many people don't even realize are happening in the United States - child marriage, FGM, and femicide. As pointed out, "A September 2022 report from the Violence Policy Center shows a 24% increase in femicide in the United States between 2014 and 2020 - And women in the United States are 28 times more likely to die by firearm homicide than women in other high-income nations. There is a dire need for early prevention strategies and awareness-building, improved surveillance and research, and preventative laws."

Yet, pathways & collateral consequences of incarcerating women different than men, considering that two-thirds of incarcerated women are mothers & primary caregivers for young children. NJRC Women's Report & Resource Manual directs to NJRC partners. https://bit.ly/4bbheT3