The need for local organizations to be involved with these issues remains high. In September, the Greater Kingston Area Safe and Sober Committee, with support from the Kingston Frontenac Anti-Violence Coordinating Committee (KFACC), launched “Don’t Be That Guy”, a campaign targeting potential sexual assault perpetrators (www.sexualassaultvoices.com). And over the fall and winter, Kingston Community Counselling Centres (K3C), Kingston Interval House (KIH), girls inc., and the Canadian Women’s Foundation are jointly offering “Girls Taking Action Against Violence”, a prevention program for teens (www.k3c.org).

These are just recent instances of anti-violence work being done in our community by KFACC, KIH, Sexual Assault Centre Kingston, the KGH Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Program, K3C and others. Much is being done locally, provincially, federally and beyond to help victims and survivors, and prevent more violence from happening. But, more is needed.

Violence hurts all of us, and all of us need to be a part of the solution. KFACC encourages everyone to recognize Woman Abuse Prevention Month, and get involved in the struggle to stop these crimes. To learn more about how to contribute financially and volunteer, please visit www.kfacc.org/help.

We hope, and work, for the day when initiatives such as Woman Abuse Prevention Month are no longer necessary, and every person can live safely, free from the threat of domestic and sexual violence. However, this can only happen through recognising violence against women as a problem belonging to us all, and working together end it.

Lisa Fox and Kim Allen
Co-chairs, KFACC

The Greater Kingston and Area Safe & Sober Alliance is made up of the following

KFL&A Public Health, KGH Sexual Assault Domestic Violence Unit, Royal Military College Health Promotions Program, St Lawrence College, Queen’s University, Sexual Assault Centre Kingston, KAIROS, Kingston Police, Centre for Addiction & Mental Health, Kingston Fire & Rescue

The “Don’t be that Guy” campaign warns you that extremely drunk or unconscious women cannot consent to sex.

The idea/graphics originate from the Edmonton Police Force and attempts to direct prevention strategies where the real problem is – the perpetrators.

Most sexual assault campaigns focus on providing prevention tips for women – but they reinforce the myth that women are somehow responsible for anticipating and preventing sexual violence.

Don’t Be That Guy FAQ

Don’t Be That Guy Kingston Media Release

SAVE poster 1–doesn’t mean she’s saying yes

SAVE poster 2–you get to helpf yourself

SAVE poster 3–Just because she’s drunk

Edmonton Sun Article on Don’t Be That Guy Campaign from November 19, 2010

Edmonton Police 2010 Q4 Report Mentioning Don’t Be That Guy

Sadly, the murder of 14 women at École Polytechnique in Montréal 21 years ago is just the tip of the iceberg. Partner abuse and sexual violence are still rampant throughout the country, including our Kingston and Frontenac communities. The Sexual Assault Centre, Kingston Interval House, and other organizations are working ceaselessly to provide services for the alarmingly large number of victims and survivors. And unfortunately, there are no signs on the horizon of the trends letting up.

This fight does not belong only to the affected women and the agencies that help them. All of us are in some way negatively impacted by the violence; and in some way, we all have a part in ending it.

The wide array of issues relating to domestic and sexual violence can seem much larger than any one person, and cause us to feel overwhelmed. The reality, though, is that none of these problems are insurmountable. Even as individuals, we can make seemingly small differences in our own lives, which add up to widespread improvement for everyone.

For those of us in a position to give, financial support for Sexual Assault Centre Kingston, Interval House, and related organizations is crucial to them being able to continue their daunting work. Getting involved with local campaigns such as Picture An End To Violence, or attending events like December 6 vigils, helps to raise funds and awareness. Even simple gestures such as wearing white or purple ribbons can help by spreading the message.

The bottom line is that we must overcome any sense of helplessness, and stop being bystanders. This can mean contributing through some of the ways described above; but it can also mean engaging on a personal level–maybe by breaking the silence around situations that exist in our family, social, or workplace dynamics; perhaps by reaching out to someone you fear is being victimized.

Whatever the specific opportunities for you to act may be, it is important for keep the struggle to end violence against women at the forefront of our thoughts, and actions, every day of the year.

Kim Allen and Lisa Fox
Co-Chairs,
The Kingston Frontenac Anti-Violence Coordinating Committee

There are a number of area programs, agencies, individuals, and other organizations working to end this violence. Kingston Interval House, Sexual Assault Centre Kingston, the KGH Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Program, and others, do a tremendous amount to help victims and survivors. And the Kingston Frontenac Anti-Violence Coordinating Committee (KFACC) comprises over 30 organizations, from various sectors, that collaborate on an ongoing basis to strengthen the network of assistance available.

As a society, however, we are all hurt by woman abuse, and all of us need to be a part of the solution. KFACC encourages everyone to recognize Woman Abuse Prevention Month, and to get involved in the struggle to stop these crimes against our daughters, mothers, wives and sisters.

Financial contributions and other support for your local organizations is always welcome. As well, there are a number of events to attend, and campaigns assist with during November, and throughout the year. These include Picture An End to Violence, the White Ribbon Campaign, Neighbours, Friends and Family, and more. For more information please visit www.kfacc.org.

KFACC looks forward to the day when initiatives such as Woman Abuse Prevention Month are no longer necessary, and every person can live safely, free from domestic and sexual violence. However, this can only happen through recognizing violence against women as a problem belonging to us all, and working together as a community end it.

Kim Allen
Chair, KFACC

This act amends Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act in several key ways, including a call for the protection of employees against domestic violence in the workplace in cases where employers are, or should be aware of such risks. It comes into effect on June 15, and applies to every workplace in the province, be it a business, non-profit, church, charity or association. Employers will be required to provide reasonable protection for employees, including policies and procedures to investigate and act on complaints or incidents of violence, as well as education for employees about the policy.

KGH has introduced internal training designed by the SA/DV Program to give employees an understanding of what intimate partner violence is, how it affects the workplace, how to recognize it, and how to seek help for themselves, or guide colleagues to available services.

In response to hospital employees at risk violence who come forward, KGH’s SA/DV Program and Security personnel collaborate with them to create and implement personal safety plans, diminishing the threat to their safety at the workplace.

As an organization focused on the problems of partner abuse and sexual violence in our community, KFACC applauds the province for distinguishing domestic violence as a specific threat to employee safety. The move will be helpful to efforts to prevent instances of violence against women in the workplace, such as the 2005 murder of Lori Dupont by her co-worker, who was also her former boyfriend.

On the local level, we appreciate seeing the changes in thinking and action prescribed by Bill 168, such as these initiatives from the Kingston General Hospital Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Program. Their understanding of the need to address violence against women as a societal issue raises the bar for other workplaces in our community. We hope other organizations in Kingston and Frontenac will follow KGH’s example in their own policy and procedure developments arising from the recent OHSA amendment. For more information they can visit the Legislative Assembly of Ontario’s website at www.ontla.on.ca and check out the Bills and Lawmaking section.

KFACC is an organization working to end violence against women by raising awareness of the issues, and supporting a coordinated community response to sexual violence and partner abuse. The Committee includes agencies providing services for victims and survivors of violence, their children, their family members, and agencies that work with perpetrators. Some of the sectors represented are law enforcement and justice, shelter and housing, health, and counselling support. For more information, visit www.kfacc.org.

In its second year, “Direct This!” invites Grade 9 through 12 students to produce short videos about ending violence against girls and women. Judges select the set of finalists to be screened at the May 10 event, when the first, second and third place winners will be revealed.

Awards Night will be MC’ed by K-Rock radio hosts Darryl Kornicky and Sarah Crosbie. It will include a screening of the finalists, performances by local indie rockers Chase the Light, a special presentation by a survivor of violence, and the highly anticipated announcement of the winning videos. Kim Allen, Chair of KFACC, looks forward to the event; “It’ll be a really exciting and fun atmosphere for the students to show off and celebrate their work. Last year was fantastic, and we think this year’s going to be even better.”

The competition is organized by the Kingston Frontenac Anti-Violence Coordinating Committee (KFACC) to promote awareness of the issues and to start discussion–especially among youth. “We want to get students talking to each other about it now, because it helps prevent the negative attitudes and behaviours from forming later on in life,” explains Allen.

The Kingston Frontenac Anti-Violence Coordinating Committee is a group working together at the local level to end domestic and sexual violence. It has a membership of organizations that provide services for those affected. The committee promotes awareness of the issues, and supports a coordinated community response to violence against women. For more information please visit www.kfacc.org.

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For more information contact:
FRANCIS WOOBY
KFACC COORDINATOR
email: info@kfacc.org
phone: 613-329-3187

MEDIA RELEASE

April 29, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Local high school students shine in front of and behind the camera

KINGSTON-On May 7, Kingston area high school students will be showcasing and celebrating their cinematic success when the “Direct This!” video contest wraps with a special evening awards ceremony at Loyalist Collegiate and Vocational Institute.

Sponsored by the Kinston Frontenac Anti-Violence Coordinating Committee (KFACC), the “Direct This!” video contest began in early February at regional high schools. Grades nine through 12 students were invited to submit short videos depicting how healthy relationships factor into their lives.

“We wanted students to start thinking and talking to each other about healthy relationships, because learning to recognize and form them when you’re young prevents unhealthy behaviours from happening later on,” explains Lisa Fox, KFACC Chair. “And with today’s technology, video is one of the best ways to spark the conversation.”

The event will be MC’ed by KROCK hosts Sarah Crosbie and Darryl Kornicky. Contest finalists will be shown; first, second and third place prizes will be awarded for the winning entries; and special performances and presentations will take place throughout evening.

“Direct This!” is timely, as recently violence against women and related issues have been highly visible. April 27 saw the unveiling of the Kingston Police memorial to six local women murdered by their partners. And on May 7, prior to the “Direct This!” awards, KROCK is participating in the Canadian Women’s Foundation’s nationwide radio-thon for their Shelter from the Storm campaign.

“It’s crucial to talk about these things openly,” says Fox. “It’s how we start to find solutions. We’re encouraging youth to have these discussions now so that maybe they won’t need to later on.”

KFACC includes local agencies committed to raising awareness of issues relating to domestic and sexual violence; and to promoting a community-based approach to delivering services for victims of partner abuse and sexual violence, and their families. To learn more, please visit www.kfacc.org.

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For more information please contact:

FRANCIS WOOBY, Communications & Administrative Coordinator, KFACC

Tel. 613.329.3187, info@kfacc.org

The Honourable Deb Matthews
Minister Responsible for Women’s Issues
Ontario Women’s Directorate
777 Bay Street, 6th Floor
Toronto, Ontario M7A 2J4

RE: Ontario Sexual Violence Action Plan

Dear Minister Deb Matthews,

Recently, the Kingston Frontenac Anti-Violence Coordinating Committee (KFACC) has learned the Ontario Liberal Government has made a commitment to create a Sexual Violence Action Plan for the province. There are a number of critical issues we ask you to consider as this plan is developed.

KFACC consists of representatives from agencies providing services for victims of partner abuse and sexual violence, their families, and agencies that work with perpetrators. We include organizations working throughout the city of Kingston, Frontenac County, and in some parts of Lennox & Addington County.

Sectors represented on our committee include law enforcement and justice, shelter and housing, health, hospitals, mental health and counselling support. The different perspectives and expertise we each bring to KFACC enable us to develop a full understanding of the challenges, issues and priorities for our clients, our communities, and one another.

Our mandate is to contribute to the eradication of violence by promoting individual and community awareness of issues relating to domestic and sexual violence, and to support a coordinated community response to these issues.

KFACC is committed to integrating issues of sexual violence into our work in a more comprehensive way, and we understand the need to fully address the complexities and far reaching effects of Sexual Violence in our communities.

Please consider the following as you develop your Sexual Violence Action Plan:

• Take a “snapshot” of work being done currently through education, acute care, counselling, the justice system and advocacy. Assess the existing relationships between programs in the various communities by surveying the organizations and individuals providing this support. (e.g., The current French Language Services Assessment that is taking place in Kingston by the Ministry of the Attorney General.) What is happening out there in our communities right now?

• Better integrate the subject of sexual violence into workplace training. We recognize a disconnect between the education of employees around what they can do if they are victims of sexual violence, and what they can expect will happen when they report. Even what sexual violence is, is unclear. How are issues relating sexual violence integrated into Workplace Safety Programs?

• Design curriculum for all grades of school to create a Culture of Respect. (e.g., The “Boys to Men” campaign.)

• Create an affiliation with the Ministry of Colleges and Training and Ministry of Education Business School to fully integrate the issue of sexual violence into course credits in community college Police Foundations, Child and Youth Worker, Social Services Worker and related programs.

• Dispel myths about who can and cannot be sexually assaulted. (i.e., Women sexually assaulted by their partners in domestic/dating relationships or sex trade workers aren’t victims.)

• Establish standardized assessment in the healthcare system that asks “Have you ever experienced Sexual Violence?” specifically.

• Develop a provincial prevention campaign that is culturally competent.

• Provide education about sexual violence for especially vulnerable communities such as long-term care recipients, people with disAbilities, and refugee women.

• Empower local coordinating committees/service providers with financial resources and opportunities for active participation in the development, implementation and evaluation of the SVAP.

• Seek and integrate input from communities on the provincial outreach campaigns that may be created (e.g., Neighbours, Friends and Families, Internet exploitation prevention initiatives) and programs created in partnership with community organizations with experience in this field. As well, identify experts around the issues of Sexual Violence and use their expertise to inform programs and education initiatives.

• Specialize the justice system-similar to the Domestic Violence Court-with connections among Family, Domestic Sexual Violence and Criminal Court.

• Study the correlations between sentence lengths given for crimes of sexual violence and recidivism rates, and re-evaluate sentencing guidelines based on the results.

• Conduct an in-depth analysis of immigration laws and how they affect/protect those who have experienced sexual violence. (e.g., Victims of human trafficking.)

• Include collaboration with federal partners on components of the Sexual Violence Action Plan where overlap in services occurs.

• Commit to funding appropriate research partners to enable provincial bodies to facilitate research opportunities. These provincial bodies include the Ontario Network of Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Treatment Centres, the Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres, Ontario Interval and Transition Houses, DisAbilities Women Network, Ontario Network of Aboriginal Women.

• Create a cost analysis of sexual violence on the health, judicial, educational and income support systems.

• Engage men in the prevention of sexual violence and create much needed support for men who have experienced sexual violence.

As a diverse group of community organizations that deal primarily with issues of violence and provide support for those who have experienced violence in their lives, we feel a Sexual Violence Action Plan including the above will help our communities address sexual violence in a meaningful and lasting way.

We understand that many voices and experiences will need to be involved in creating a comprehensive plan encompassing all Ministries and communities involved in the issues of sexual violence; and we appreciate the opportunity to share our thoughts with you.

Sincerely,

Lisa Fox
Chair, KFACC

Kim Allen, Executive Director of the Sexual Assault Centre Kingston notes, “In Ontario, one in four women, and one in six men are sexually assaulted in their lifetime. According to Statistics Canada, 133,170 children were born in Ontario during 2005 and 2006. Twenty thousand of those children will be sexually abused before the age of 18. Chances are, someone close to you is a survivor of sexual violence, whether you know it or not.”

The creation of the Sexual Assault Protocol is a major step in the struggle against sexual assault. It lays down the groundwork for a comprehensive and standardized community response to sexual violence. Increasing cooperation among victim service providers improves the overall quality of help available to survivors of sexual assault.

In addition, it is anticipated that having a formal coordinated response in place will encourage more victims to come forward and report sexual assaults. This, in turn, will strengthen prevention, education and healing efforts from within the community.

The Protocol was developed collaboratively by the Sexual Assault Emergency Committee, comprising representatives of various social services, justice, health care, and educational organizations throughout Kingston and Frontenac County.