YWCA’s across Western Canada are urging the public to stop and listen to survivors of violence through a series of Facebook videos.
The campaign is part of Victims and Survivors of Crime Week, which runs from May 27 until June 2 to raise awareness about survivors’ issues.
The Facebook videos invite viewers to hear the emotional internal monologues — the confusion, self doubt and fear that survivors often feel.
Statistics Canada data shows that half of all women in Canada have experienced at least one incident of physical or sexual violence since the age of 16.
The YWCA says the true scale of violence against women in Canada isn’t always reflected in the number of incidents that get reported and everyone has a part to play in supporting survivors.
“The unfortunate reality is that the inner monologues in our campaign ads reflect thoughts that might run through a survivor’s mind,” says Lisa Rupert, VP of Housing Services and Violence Prevention at YWCA Metro Vancouver. “Women still wonder whether they will be listened to and believed.”
On Facebook, 85 per cent of videos are watched without sound. The YWCA hopes these videos will show that when people take the time to listen they give survivors a voice and sense of agency so they no longer suffer in silence.
The videos are will be broadcast throughout Alberta and southern British Columbia as well as being available online.
“We hope this campaign raises awareness and helps people understand what survivors go through, and how important it is for us hear and believe survivors, so that no one suffers in silence, ” Rupert says.
