The Campaign

Neighbours, Friends Neighbours, Friends & Families & Families

at Workat Work

A Program of the Centre for Research & Education

on Violence Against Women & Children

Faculty of Education, University of Western Ontario

delivered through collaborations with

community–based NFF Champions

The Campaign The Campaign

Neighbours, Friends and Families is managed by Neighbours, Friends and Families is managed by the Centre for Research and Education on Violence the Centre for Research and Education on Violence

Against Women and Children. It was developed by Against Women and Children. It was developed by an Expert Panel. The Ontario Government funds the an Expert Panel. The Ontario Government funds the

campaign. campaign.

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PurposePurpose

Neighbours, Friends and Families is a Neighbours, Friends and Families is a campaign to raise awareness of campaign to raise awareness of

THE SIGNS OF WOMAN ABUSE THE SIGNS OF WOMAN ABUSE

so that people who are close to an at-risk so that people who are close to an at-risk woman or abusive man can help.woman or abusive man can help.

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Situational couple violenceSituational couple violence• most common / arguments escalate to violencemost common / arguments escalate to violence

Intimate terrorism / batteringIntimate terrorism / battering• abusive partner controls and coercesabusive partner controls and coerces

Violent ResistanceViolent Resistance• victim of intimate terrorism fights backvictim of intimate terrorism fights back

Domestic Violence – 3 TypesDomestic Violence – 3 Types

Johnson / CLASP – 2006

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Situational couple violenceSituational couple violence• most common / arguments escalate to violencemost common / arguments escalate to violence

Intimate terrorism / batteringIntimate terrorism / battering• abusive partner controls and coercesabusive partner controls and coerces

Violent ResistanceViolent Resistance• victim of intimate terrorism fights backvictim of intimate terrorism fights back


Woman Abuse

Why Focus on Woman Abuse?Why Focus on Woman Abuse?

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• Highest risk casesHighest risk cases• Most serious injuriesMost serious injuries• PreventablePreventable• Impact on children is devastatingImpact on children is devastating• Can’t change what you can’t nameCan’t change what you can’t name

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Statistics Statistics

Ontario Death Reviews - All cases from Ontario Death Reviews - All cases from 2002-2005 2002-2005

94% of violent perpetrators were male 94% of violent perpetrators were male

Domestic Violence Death Review Committee

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Statistics Statistics

15 women were killed in Ontario by abusive 15 women were killed in Ontario by abusive partners in 2008partners in 2008

In the past 10 years, over 200 women have In the past 10 years, over 200 women have been killed in Ontariobeen killed in Ontario


• All are harmfulAll are harmful

• All are potentially dangerousAll are potentially dangerous

• All need intervention – different kindsAll need intervention – different kinds

• All create victims who need supportAll create victims who need support

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Patterns of Abuse – ongoing, systematic Patterns of Abuse – ongoing, systematic to control and dominate a womanto control and dominate a woman

Can be:Can be:Physical / Sexual / Psychological or Emotional / Physical / Sexual / Psychological or Emotional / Religious / EconomicReligious / Economic

What Does Woman Abuse What Does Woman Abuse Look Like?Look Like?

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The Domestic Violence Death Review CommitteeThe Domestic Violence Death Review Committee

……the greatest need continues to be educating all the greatest need continues to be educating all members of the community about the warning members of the community about the warning signs of domestic violence and the appropriate signs of domestic violence and the appropriate

action necessary to prevent it.action necessary to prevent it.

One example…is the Neighbours, Friends and One example…is the Neighbours, Friends and Families Campaign.Families Campaign. (DVDRC 2005) (DVDRC 2005)

NFF – “Model Program”NFF – “Model Program”

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Dupont / Daniel Inquest - RecommendationsDupont / Daniel Inquest - Recommendations

““to provide support to all workplaces to train all employees to provide support to all workplaces to train all employees about the dynamics of domestic violence….as well as what about the dynamics of domestic violence….as well as what to do if faced with a situation where violence enters the to do if faced with a situation where violence enters the workplaceworkplace

……model programs such as Neighbours, Friends and model programs such as Neighbours, Friends and Families may be expanded in Ontario and be more directly Families may be expanded in Ontario and be more directly inclusive of the role of the workplace”.inclusive of the role of the workplace”.

NFF – “Model Program”NFF – “Model Program”

A Common Misconception:A Common Misconception:Woman abuse is a private issueWoman abuse is a private issue

In Canada, woman abuse in the workplace has In Canada, woman abuse in the workplace has been invisiblebeen invisible

The tragic death of Lori Dupont has awakened The tragic death of Lori Dupont has awakened us to the fact that it is a workplace issueus to the fact that it is a workplace issue

Critical Events and OpportunitiesCritical Events and Opportunities

• Critical EventsCritical Events• Visible warning signs and risk factors Visible warning signs and risk factors • Should raise possibility of dangerShould raise possibility of danger

• OpportunitiesOpportunities• A chance to intervene A chance to intervene • Can be missed because of uncertainty or Can be missed because of uncertainty or

missing informationmissing information• Organizations and individuals are unpreparedOrganizations and individuals are unprepared

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1 3 3 4 4 4

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Critical Event

Opportunity

Accumulation of Critical Events & Missed Opportunities Dupont Inquest

Workplace ImplicationsWorkplace Implications

Significant human and economic costs• Measurable costs - $4 billion+ / yr (partial costs)

• $1B+ traced to time away from work

Corporate leadership in the United States• Corporate Alliance to End Partner Violence

1616Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women and Children

Domestic Violence Prevention: A Workplace Initiative


• Happen across all social classes Happen across all social classes • 37% of men in a perpetrators program are 37% of men in a perpetrators program are

white collar workers white collar workers • professionals, administrators, managers professionals, administrators, managers

• 74% of victims are harassed while at work, 74% of victims are harassed while at work, which puts themselves and all people which puts themselves and all people present at the workplace at riskpresent at the workplace at risk

Gandolf 2002Gandolf 2002Zachary 2000Zachary 2000


The danger of stalking & psychological abuseThe danger of stalking & psychological abuse

• 76% of women murdered were stalked by their 76% of women murdered were stalked by their intimate partners in the year prior to murderintimate partners in the year prior to murder

• 11–24% of all stalking cases actually begin in the 11–24% of all stalking cases actually begin in the workplaceworkplace

• 87% of stalkers are male87% of stalkers are male

National Stalking Resource Center National Stalking Resource Center Kong, 1997; Pathe Kong, 1997; Pathe et al.et al., 2000, 2000

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Perpetrator Interference Perpetrator Interference Behaviours and ActionsBehaviours and Actions

He may prevent her from getting to work or, He may prevent her from getting to work or, interfere with her ability to work:interfere with her ability to work:

• Place repeated phone calls Place repeated phone calls • Stalk and/or watch her while she is at workStalk and/or watch her while she is at work• Show up and pester her co-workers with Show up and pester her co-workers with

questions (where is she, who she’s with, when questions (where is she, who she’s with, when will she be back, etc.)will she be back, etc.)

Why Workplaces Need to Be InvolvedWhy Workplaces Need to Be Involved

• Most workplaces are unpreparedMost workplaces are unprepared• Many employees are affected directly and Many employees are affected directly and

indirectlyindirectly• Multiple concerns such as security, health, Multiple concerns such as security, health,

performance, productivityperformance, productivity• In 9 out of 10 workplace incidents, the victim later In 9 out of 10 workplace incidents, the victim later

confides in a co-workerconfides in a co-worker• Employers & co-workers can make a differenceEmployers & co-workers can make a difference

2020 Stats Canada 2004

Why Workplaces Need to Be InvolvedWhy Workplaces Need to Be Involved

Perpetrators choose her workplace as a means to Perpetrators choose her workplace as a means to access her because often this is a factor in her life access her because often this is a factor in her life

that remains unchanged and predictable. that remains unchanged and predictable.

Even if she has changed residences to isolate herself Even if she has changed residences to isolate herself from the perpetrator, she may still experience the from the perpetrator, she may still experience the

negative actions at work.negative actions at work.

2121 Zachary 2000

Recognizing the SignsRecognizing the Signs

The victim may:The victim may:• Have bruising that cannot be explainedHave bruising that cannot be explained• Miss work on a regular basis or seem to be sick Miss work on a regular basis or seem to be sick

more oftenmore often• Be sad, lonely, withdrawn and afraidBe sad, lonely, withdrawn and afraid• Have trouble concentrating on a taskHave trouble concentrating on a task• Receive upsetting phone callsReceive upsetting phone calls• Use alcohol or drugs to copeUse alcohol or drugs to cope

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Documentary Documentary “What everyone should know about “What everyone should know about

woman abuse.”woman abuse.”

View the DVD on-line at:View the DVD on-line at: www.cmPlaylister.com/nff

Lived ExperienceLived Experience

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How Can I Support Her?How Can I Support Her?

Examples:Examples:• Talk to her about what Talk to her about what

you see and assure her you see and assure her that you are concerned that you are concerned

• Tell her you believe her Tell her you believe her and that it is not her fault and that it is not her fault

• Provide information about Provide information about safety safety

Understanding the Traps Understanding the Traps • History of abuse – grew up in abusive homeHistory of abuse – grew up in abusive home• Afraid to be on her ownAfraid to be on her own• Blames herself for the abuseBlames herself for the abuse• Economic uncertainty - povertyEconomic uncertainty - poverty• She loves him – believes he can changeShe loves him – believes he can change• She doesn’t want to move the childrenShe doesn’t want to move the children• Pressure from her familyPressure from her family• Cultural norms that don’t permit divorceCultural norms that don’t permit divorce

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Safety Planning for WomenSafety Planning for Women

• Developing a Safety planDeveloping a Safety plan• Getting Ready to LeaveGetting Ready to Leave• Leaving the AbuserLeaving the Abuser• After LeavingAfter Leaving

Referral Information:Referral Information:

The Assaulted Women’s Helpline, The Assaulted Women’s Helpline, and other women’s services in your and other women’s services in your areaarea

Assaulted Women’s HelplineAssaulted Women’s Helpline• 24-hour telephone support and crisis line24-hour telephone support and crisis line• Anonymous and confidentialAnonymous and confidential• Available in many languagesAvailable in many languages

Local ResourcesLocal Resources

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What Can I Say?What Can I Say? When someone you care about is acting abusively:When someone you care about is acting abusively:

• Approach him when he is calmApproach him when he is calm

• Tell him that you are concerned for Tell him that you are concerned for the safety of his partner and children the safety of his partner and children and that there is help for himand that there is help for him

• Recognize that confrontational, Recognize that confrontational, argumentative approaches may argumentative approaches may make the situation worse and put her make the situation worse and put her at higher riskat higher risk

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Brochures & Safety CardsBrochures & Safety Cards

• Arabic Arabic • Chinese SimplifiedChinese Simplified• Chinese Chinese • English English • FarsiFarsi• French French • KoreanKorean

• Punjabi IndianPunjabi Indian• Punjabi Pakistani Punjabi Pakistani • RussianRussian• Somali Somali • SpanishSpanish• Tamil Tamil • VietnameseVietnamese

Available in:

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Website

www.neighboursfriendsandfamilies.ca

www.kanawayhitowin.ca

www.voisinsamisetfamilles.ca

Neighbours, Friends & FamiliesNeighbours, Friends & Families

What Can I Do? What Can I Do?

Know the Rule of IsolationKnow the Rule of Isolation

Isolation is a factor that is always present in Isolation is a factor that is always present in situations of woman abuse situations of woman abuse

……It could even be considered a necessary It could even be considered a necessary conditioncondition

As the abuse escalates – the isolation As the abuse escalates – the isolation becomes more profoundbecomes more profound

Behaviours Designed to Behaviours Designed to Interrupt IsolationInterrupt Isolation

1.1. Pay attention to signs of abusePay attention to signs of abuse

2.2. Don’t sit alone with suspicions and Don’t sit alone with suspicions and questionsquestions

3.3. Seek help and take appropriate actionSeek help and take appropriate action

SEE IT – NAME IT – CHECK ITSEE IT – NAME IT – CHECK IT

How do we prepare ourselves?How do we prepare ourselves?

Start with HeartStart with HeartYou can’t go wrong if you intervene You can’t go wrong if you intervene

from a place of genuine concern from a place of genuine concern and care…and care…

Becoming A Workplace ChampionBecoming A Workplace Champion

Three Levels of InvolvementThree Levels of Involvement

Level 1: Introduce campaign and materials to all Level 1: Introduce campaign and materials to all employeesemployees

Level 2: Presentations & Workshops Level 2: Presentations & Workshops

Level 3: Train the TrainerLevel 3: Train the Trainer

For more information on the workplace program contact Barb MacQuarrie For more information on the workplace program contact Barb MacQuarrie at at [email protected]

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YOU

Friends

Committees

Manager

Neighbours

Co-Workers

Relatives

How it WorksHow it WorksEngaging The Potential and Power of Everyday RelationshipsEngaging The Potential and Power of Everyday Relationships

YOUYOU

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Final ThoughtsFinal Thoughts

There are no simple solutions – leaving an abusive There are no simple solutions – leaving an abusive partner is more of a process than an event.partner is more of a process than an event.

Caring about the people around us, paying Caring about the people around us, paying attention to them when there are signs of attention to them when there are signs of

trouble can be the most important intervention trouble can be the most important intervention we can make.we can make.

Most Ontarians feel a personal responsibility Most Ontarians feel a personal responsibility for reducing woman abuse...for reducing woman abuse...recognizing it is the first steprecognizing it is the first step

Take the warning signs seriouslyTake the warning signs seriously

Neighbours, Friends and FamiliesNeighbours, Friends and Families

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Documents

The Campaign