WomenatthecentrE Initiative
Embedding, Resilience, and Grounding Resistance
This project aims to develop a specific Canada-wide membership program, created by and for trafficking survivors that will address their need for a safe space to facilitate discussions of their lived realities, build connections and community, and reignite their power and resilience through survivor-led advocacy and education.
Partners
Yukon Status of Women Council, Collaborative Community Solutions, YWCA Canada, Women's Sexual Assault Centre of Renfrew County, The Cridge Centre for the Family, The Centre for Sexual Violence Response, Support & Education at York University, Anova Future, DAWN Canada, Victim Services of Durham Region, Radical Sisters Rising, Project iRise, Acquired Brain Injury Lab at University of Toronto
Portfolio
Human Trafficking
Funder
Department for Women and Gender Equality
Approximately 9% of our members self-identify as survivors of human
trafficking and were instrumental in developing and implementing our
Human Trafficking portfolio in 2019.
This group identified the urgent need for a separate, safer space for them to meet and, in turn, developed our Human Trafficking Committee where they are able to discuss their particular lived experiences and subsequent systemic violence, as well as strategies to create social and political change. It was through this committee that human trafficking survivors identified the need for further supports in northern rural communities, such as northern Ontario (Sault Ste Marie, Niagara region and Renfrew County), Yukon (Whitehorse), and Albert (Edmonton).
Activities will include:
This group identified the urgent need for a separate, safer space for them to meet and, in turn, developed our Human Trafficking Committee where they are able to discuss their particular lived experiences and subsequent systemic violence, as well as strategies to create social and political change. It was through this committee that human trafficking survivors identified the need for further supports in northern rural communities, such as northern Ontario (Sault Ste Marie, Niagara region and Renfrew County), Yukon (Whitehorse), and Albert (Edmonton).
Activities will include:
- Participatory community-based research with survivors
- Pan-Canada membership created by and for survivors
- Peer support program for survivors
- Training for frontline workers, hotel staff, law enforcement, and media specialist
- Develop innovative support services for survivors
What's Next?
The project’s next steps entails developing a pan-Canada membership program for survivors that will be informed by current conducted research.
The research will also inform our Train-The-Trainer program for frontline workers, hotel staff, law enforcement, and media specialists.
We are currently open to membership from survivors who would like to stay engaged and have their voices heard on these projects. Survivors can register as members below.
The research will also inform our Train-The-Trainer program for frontline workers, hotel staff, law enforcement, and media specialists.
We are currently open to membership from survivors who would like to stay engaged and have their voices heard on these projects. Survivors can register as members below.