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Pathways To Dignity: Online Resources for Vulnerable Immigrant Girls and Women on Gender-Based Violence and Domestic Abuse - Understanding Gender-Based Violence, Recognizing Abuse and Finding Suppor...
KLHIISA
Writer
Pathways To Dignity: Online Resources for Vulnerable Immigrant Girls and
Women on Gender-Based Violence and Domestic Abuse - Understanding Gender-Based
Violence, Recognizing Abuse and Finding Support.
Gender-based violence (GBV) and domestic abuse can affect
anyone, regardless of age, culture, income, immigration status or length of
time in Canada.
For immigrant, newcomer and non-status women and girls,
seeking help can sometimes feel especially difficult. Language barriers,
isolation, financial dependence, fear of authorities and concerns about
immigration status can create additional barriers to safety and support.
This Resource brings together videos, films, legal
information, safety resources and practical toolkits that can help women
and girls understand abuse, recognize warning signs, learn about their rights
and find support.
You are not alone. You have rights. Abuse is never your
fault.
1. Understanding Gender-Based Violence
Video: Gender-Based Violence: It’s Not Just
This short video introduces the idea that gender-based
violence is more than physical violence. Abuse can take many forms, including
emotional, psychological, sexual, financial and controlling behaviour.
Watch the video:
Gender-Based
Violence: It’s Not Just – YouTube
Questions to consider
2. Into the Light – National Film Board of Canada
Important: This film deals with domestic violence
and may be emotionally difficult for some viewers. Participants should be given
the option to step away or access support.
Watch Into
the Light –
National Film Board of Canada
Into the Light shares the stories of women of African
origin in Quebec who have experienced domestic violence and rebuilt their
lives. The documentary explores isolation, healing, resilience and the process
of regaining control over one's life.
The NFB educational material connected to the film, includes
resources related to healthy relationships, identity and personal development.
Share your Thoughts: Discussion questions about the Film
3. Recognizing Red Flags, Control and Manipulation
Abuse may not always be open to the ordinary eyes or made obvious.
A person may use threats, insults, financial control,
isolation, monitoring, jealousy, intimidation or manipulation to control a
partner.
Controlling behaviour can also involve technology,
including monitoring phones, social media, passwords, location or online
communication.
The Government of Canada describes coercive control
as a pattern of behaviour that limits a person's freedom and sense of control.
It can include threats related to immigration status.
Questions to Ask yourself:
These can be warning signs of abuse.
4. Immigration Status and Abuse
Your immigration status should never be used as a weapon
against you.
An abusive partner may tell a woman:
“You will be deported if you leave me.”
“You have no rights in Canada.”
“The police will arrest you because you don't have status.”
“You will never see your children again.”
These threats can create fear and make it difficult for
someone to leave an abusive relationship.
However, an abusive partner does not have the power to
deport you. Immigration decisions are made by federal immigration
authorities, not by your spouse or partner.
The Government of Canada also confirms that people
experiencing family violence may have immigration options, including a Temporary
Resident Permit for victims of family violence in qualifying circumstances.
People without immigration status who are experiencing
family violence may be eligible for this protection in certain circumstances.
The first family-violence TRP is fee-exempt and can provide temporary status
while the person considers their next steps.
Learn more about possibilities of interventions in case
of precarious immigration status
Government
of Canada – Help for spouses or partners who are victims of abuse
Government
of Canada – Immigration options for victims of family violence
5. Know Your Legal Rights in Ontario
CLEO – Community Legal Education Ontario
CLEO provides plain-language legal information for people in
Ontario.
CLEO
Handbook
CLEO
– Do you know a woman who is being abused? A legal rights handbook
The handbook explains important issues including:
CLEO explains that a person without immigration status who
is experiencing family violence may be able to apply for a family-violence
Temporary Resident Permit.
A question many women ask:
“Will I be forced to leave Canada if I leave my partner?”
There is no single answer because immigration situations
differ. However, your partner does not have the authority to deport you.
Your immigration options should be discussed with a qualified immigration
lawyer or legal clinic.
Concerned about Threats of Deportation?
CLEO
– Will I be forced to leave Canada if I leave my partner?
Safety Planning
If you are experiencing abuse, you do not have to make every
decision at once.
A safety plan can help you think about:
Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic
Barbra
Schlifer Commemorative Clinic – Resources & Toolkits
The Clinic provides resources covering safety planning, risk
assessment, trauma-informed safety assessments, legal education and
gender-based violence prevention.
It also provides a resource specifically addressing race,
gendered violence and the rights of women with precarious immigration status,
designed to help service providers better support racialized women experiencing
GBV.
Assaulted Women's
Helpline – Awareness Videos
Assaulted
Women's Helpline – Awareness Videos
The Assaulted Women's Helpline provides awareness videos
about violence against women and information about accessing support.
The organization also provides crisis support information,
including:
Assaulted Women's Helpline
The AWHL page also identifies culturally specific and
French-language resources, including Fem'Aide and Talk 4 Healing.
If You Are a
Temporary Foreign Worker
Temporary foreign workers have rights under Canadian law.
Employers cannot take away a worker's passport or work
permit, threaten or abuse workers, or punish workers for reporting
mistreatment.
Abuse can include:
Government
of Canada – Temporary foreign workers: Your rights are protected
Reporting workplace abuse
Temporary foreign workers can report abuse to Service
Canada. Reports can be made confidentially, and workers do not have to provide
their name, telephone number or work permit number to make a report.
Service Canada confidential tip line:
1-866-602-9448
Government
of Canada – How to report abuse of temporary foreign workers
Tips For Girls and Young Women
Rather than focusing on graphic descriptions of violence, educational activities should help girls recognize warning signs and understand that they deserve relationships based on respect, safety, equality and consent.
WatchInto
the Light – National Film Board of Canada
The
NFB's Into the Light page includes educational content for ages 14–18
and identifies healthy relationships, identity and sexuality among its
educational subjects.
Message from KLHIISA
Keep This Resources and Share It!
In an emergency:
If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
For immigration questions related to family violence, the
Government of Canada provides a dedicated Client Support Centre option for
victims of abuse and forced marriage.
__________________________________________________________________
This Resources is intended for education and resource navigation, not legal advice.
GENDER-BASED
VIOLENCE & SURVIVOR SUPPORT
Applicable for Precarious Immigration Status
IMMEDIATE DANGER: Call 911
24/7 GBV, SEXUAL VIOLENCE & VICTIM SUPPORT
Kawartha/Haliburton Victim Services — Immediate
emotional/practical support after crime or tragedy, including IPV, sexual
assault, stalking, trafficking and image-based abuse.
Address/Access:
3028 Highway 35, Lindsay, ON K9V 4R1 (City of Kawartha Lakes OPP Detachment)
705-878-5505
Serves Kawartha
Lakes, Minden & Haliburton; a police report is not required.
CRISIS &
SPECIALIZED HELPLINES
Assaulted Women’s Helpline — 24/7 multilingual
crisis counselling, safety planning and referrals.
Address/Access:
Province-wide telephone/online service - no public walk-in address
1-866-863-0511 | TTY: 1-866-863-7868
Fem’aide — 24/7 French-language GBV support.
Address/Access:
Province-wide French-language telephone/online service - no public walk-in
address
1-877-336-2433
Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline — 24/7
confidential, multilingual, trauma-informed crisis support and referrals.
Address/Access:
Canada-wide telephone/online service - no public walk-in address
1-833-900-1010
canadianhumantraffickinghotline.ca
LEGAL & FAMILY
COURT
Community Legal Clinic – Simcoe, Haliburton, Kawartha
Lakes — Free legal services for eligible low-income residents; issues can
include housing, income supports, employment and human rights.
Address/Access:
Lindsay satellite: Kent Place Mall, Suite 214, Lindsay, ON; main office: 71
Colborne St. E., Orillia, ON L3V 6J6
705-326-6444 or
1-800-461-8953
Victim Services
Victim Services Peterborough Northumberland — Victim support in
Peterborough/Northumberland, with 24/7 on-call response through
police/emergency-service referrals.
Address/Access:
Peterborough: 453 Lansdowne St. E., Peterborough, ON K9L 0A4 | Northumberland:
1165 Division St., Cobourg, ON K9A 4J9
Peterborough: 705-748-0324 | Cobourg: 905-372-2255
SETTLEMENT & IMMIGRATION
FCJ Refugee Centre — Holistic case management for
refugee claimants and people with precarious/undocumented status;
immigration/refugee navigation, referrals, accompaniment, food security,
women/youth programs and other settlement supports. 416-469-9754 | WhatsApp: 437-217-3786
Address: 208
Oakwood Ave., Toronto, ON M6E 2V4
First-time intake
is generally on Mondays; demand can be high.
Davenport-Perth Neighbourhood & Community Health
Centre — Settlement counsellors assist both documented and undocumented
newcomers with immigration-process information, housing, health, education,
meals, ESL/community-health referrals and other community resources.
416-656-8025 ext.
238
Address: Settlement
Services: 1892 Davenport Rd., Toronto, ON
dpnchc.ca – Settlement
Services
City of Toronto Newcomer Services Kiosks — Free,
confidential settlement information and referrals for education, employment,
healthcare, housing and City/community services. Open to Toronto residents
regardless of immigration status; proof of status is not requested for this
program.
416-338-0688
Address: Toronto
City Hall: 100 Queen St. W., Main Floor Rotunda, Toronto, ON M5H 2N2 Kiosks operate at multiple locations across
Toronto; days/hours vary, so call ahead. toronto.ca –
Newcomer Services Kiosks
GBV, LEGAL &
SAFETY SUPPORT
Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic — Free
trauma-informed support for women and gender-diverse survivors of violence,
including legal services in family and immigration/refugee matters,
counselling, family-court support, interpretation, safety planning and
housing/transitional support.
416-323-9149
Address: 489
College St., Suite 503, Toronto, ON M6G 1A5
Riverdale Immigrant Women’s Centre —
Violence-against-women counselling, crisis intervention, safety planning,
advocacy and referrals, plus employment and financial-empowerment supports. Its
VAW counselling stream is listed as available regardless of status in Canada.
416-465-6021
Address: 1326
Gerrard St. E., Toronto, ON M4L 1Z1
HEALTHCARE WITHOUT OHIP / HEALTH INSURANCE
Access Alliance – Non-Insured Clinic — Free,
confidential appointment-based primary healthcare for eligible
immigrants/refugees in Toronto without health insurance, including people with
no legal immigration status.
NIC appointments:
416-324-9380
Address: 340
College St., Suite 500, Toronto, ON M5T 3A9
Not a walk-in
clinic. Eligibility criteria apply; call during the clinic’s booking window.
accessalliance.ca –
Non-Insured Clinic
FCJ Refugee Centre – Primary Health Care Clinic — Free
appointment-based primary and mental healthcare for uninsured clients or people
without another primary-care provider.
416-469-9754 ext.
230
Address: 208
Oakwood Ave., Toronto, ON M6E 2V4
Davenport-Perth Community Health Centre — Low-barrier
community health services; the centre states that clients without health cards
can access health services, subject to program intake/roster requirements.
Health Services:
416-658-6812
Address: 1900
Davenport Rd., Toronto, ON M6N 1B7
Women’s Health in Women’s Hands CHC — Culturally
responsive primary care, mental-health counselling, sexual health and GBV
support for racialized women, trans and non-binary clients. Public service
information indicates access is not limited by immigration/refugee status.
Call centre for intake/current service availability Address: 355 Church
St., Toronto, ON M5B 0B2
Writer
KLHIISA is a registered Non-Profit Organization.
