Flagged for Safety: Survivor-Led Strategies to Navigate “Red Flag” Protections
The Flagged for Safety project is a survivor-led initiative designed to increase awareness, accessibility, and safe use of firearm-related protection mechanisms (commonly referred to as “Red Flag” laws) among survivors of gender-based violence (GBV).
This project responds to critical gaps in survivors’ knowledge of emergency legal options to remove firearms from situations of risk, as well as barriers in navigating complex legal processes required to obtain protection orders. The project centres survivor experiences to develop practical, accessible tools and supports.
Key activities include revising WomenatthecentrE’s safety plan to include firearm risk, plain-language “how-to” guides for accessing emergency protection orders, and training for frontline workers to strengthen their capacity to support survivors through these processes. The project also integrates survivor feedback through surveys and engagement to better understand awareness, barriers, and outcomes related to Red Flag laws.
Through education, system navigation support, and policy-informed recommendations, the project aims to enhance survivor safety, improve access to legal protections, and contribute to more responsive and equitable implementation of firearm-related risk mitigation tools in Canada.
Portfolio: Criminal Legal System
Funders
This project is funded by Public Safety Canada through the Policy Development Contribution Program.
WomenatthecentrE Team
Nicole Taylor, Program Director
Kelsy Dundas, Project Director
Somayya Moollabhai, System Navigation Specialist
Rifaa Carter, System Navigation Specialist
Deirdre Reddick, Peer Counsellor
Increase Survivor Awareness of Red Flag Protections: Enhance knowledge among survivors of GBV about firearm-related protection orders and legal options to reduce risk.
Develop Accessible Safety Planning Tools: Create survivor-informed, plain-language resources that integrate firearm risk into safety planning.
Strengthen Frontline Capacity: Provide training and tools to service providers to support survivors in navigating Red Flag application processes safely and effectively.
Improve Navigation of Legal Processes: Support survivors in understanding and navigating the procedural requirements for obtaining emergency firearm-related protection orders.
Centre Survivor Experiences in System Design: Collect and integrate survivor feedback to identify barriers and inform improvements to policy and practice.
Contribute to Policy and Systems Change: Develop recommendations to support more consistent, accessible, and survivor-centred implementation of Red Flag laws across jurisdictions.