At COSTI, we understand that hope means different things to different people. By filling people’s lives with hope, we’re helping build a strong and prosperous community. COSTI provides the means to a brighter future. Focusing on Empowerment: Lessons Learned from Working With Abused Women from Ethnocultural Communities Farishta Murzban Dinshaw Community Development Worker

COSTI Immigrant Services COSTI Immigrant Services is a community-based multicultural agency providing employment, educational, settlement and social services to all immigrant communities, new Canadians and individuals in need of assistance.

COSTI Services This presentation is informed by the work done through COSTI’s Family and Mental Health Services: ongoing information and education to ethnocultural communities on woman, child and elder abuse prevention culturally appropriate crisis counselling and support groups for women of Italian heritage treatment group for Spanish-speaking women who have experienced trauma

Importance of Defining Violence Cultural context of violence “ Husband’s right” part of patriarchy Parenting style – “spare the rod and spoil the child” Women’s role as maintainers of family honour Controlling behaviours often not seen as violence, but as “protective” behavior

Importance of Defining Violence Continued Violent behaviour vs. abusive behaviour Violence often seen as physically harmful or intimidating behaviour; other forms not recognized Labeling forced sex within an intimate relationship as abuse important Recognizing controlling behaviour as abuse

Additional dilemmas in defining violence Intent – is it abuse if the partner means to “protect honour of the family”? Frequency – is it abuse if the partner resorts to aggression when he “loses control” because he is drunk? Injury – is looking through partner’s personal belongings without permission abuse? Perspective – is it abuse if the earning partner makes financial decisions for the dependant partner?

Vulnerable Women First generation immigrants Sponsored family members Family members of principal applicants Economic immigrants Second generation women of colour Refugee women Live-in Caregivers Undocumented women Trafficked women

What makes them vulnerable? Dependence on their spouse for status in Canada Financial dependency Isolation Absence of family support Unfamiliarity with the Canadian system Misconception that they will have to pay for services

What makes them vulnerable? Lack of language skills, absence of professional interpretation and translation facilities May experience abuse for the first time General mistrust of authority based on experiences in their country of origin Poverty, disability, sexual orientation may be additional barriers.

Service Continuum Pre-crisis Prevention Crisis Intervention Post-crisis Support

Pre-Crisis Awareness and Prevention Outreach Empowerment

Empowerment: Self-worth Insidious social messages deplete women’s self-worth Policy implications: Programs and campaigns that: encourage positive body image illustrate healthy relationships provide opportunities to build support networks provide education so women can be financially self-sufficient

Empowerment: Awareness Many immigrant women are unfamiliar with their legal and constitutional rights in Canada Policy Implications: Practical rights-based awareness campaigns supported by corresponding services, adequate budgets and skilled ethno-linguistic service providers

Empowerment: Access Immigrant women have limited access to information, services and opportunities Policy implications: An analysis of systemic barriers A concentrated outreach effort to reach women who do not come to agencies Recognition that provision of transit costs & child care are significant to women accessing services

Empowerment: Engagement Immigrant women face barriers in participating to shape laws and policies, programs and services Policy Implications: Opportunities for volunteering in decision making roles (school committees, boards) Education about how the government works; voting Education on voicing opinions (writing to MPs, petitions, surveys)

Contact Information Farishta Dinshaw Community Development Worker COSTI Immigrant Services 1700 Wilson Avenue, Suite 105, PO Box 90 Toronto, ON M3L 1B2 Tel: , Ext. 272