{"id":22652,"date":"2022-07-11T10:05:16","date_gmt":"2022-07-11T14:05:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.leaf.ca\/?post_type=news&p=22652"},"modified":"2022-07-11T10:06:34","modified_gmt":"2022-07-11T14:06:34","slug":"avalon-leaf-and-wellness-within-call-for-an-end-to-victim-blaming-as-mass-casualty-commission-proceedings-turn-to-gender-based-violence","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.leaf.ca\/fr\/news\/avalon-leaf-and-wellness-within-call-for-an-end-to-victim-blaming-as-mass-casualty-commission-proceedings-turn-to-gender-based-violence\/","title":{"rendered":"Avalon, LEAF, and Wellness Within call for an end to victim blaming as Mass Casualty Commission proceedings turn to gender-based violence"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

July 8, 2022 <\/strong>\u2013  Victims are not responsible for the violent actions of the perpetrators who harmed them, says Avalon Sexual Assault Centre, Wellness Within, and the Women\u2019s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the next few weeks, the Mass Casualty Commission will hear about the role gender-based violence played in the killings of 22 people, including a pregnant woman, in Nova Scotia on April 18-19, 2020.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As part of this work, Lisa Banfield will testify before the Commission. Ms. Banfield was the common law spouse of the perpetrator of the mass casualty. Throughout their relationship, the perpetrator controlled, emotionally abused, and violently assaulted Ms. Banfield. Despite this, Ms. Banfield has often wrongly faced blame for the violence unleashed by the perpetrator in April 2020. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn the face of unfathomable trauma and loss, looking for someone to blame is understandable,\u201d says Erin Breen, Counsel for Avalon, LEAF, and Wellness Within. \u201cBut Lisa Banfield is not responsible for the perpetrator\u2019s violence.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Victim blaming is far too common. One in five<\/a> survivors of sexual assault has been made to feel responsible for their victimization, most often by the perpetrator, their family, or their friends. Victim blaming is also deeply harmful. Blaming survivors tells them that they are responsible for the abuse that they have faced. It discourages people in abusive relationships from seeking help. It also discourages those who witness violence from stepping in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avalon, LEAF, and Wellness Within call on all members of the media to responsibly and accurately report on Ms. Banfield\u2019s testimony and experiences. To assist, we have put together an outline<\/a> of key Commission documents. We have also compiled a list of resources on gender-based violence and the dangers of victim blaming (see below). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPut simply, the victim blaming Ms. Banfield is being subjected to is rooted in misogyny,\u201d says Breen. \u201cLisa was, without a doubt, another victim of the perpetrator\u2019s violence. Her experiences clearly point to the broader pattern of intimate-partner violence and mass killings being closely linked.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

For media commentary, please contact:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Erin Breen 
Counsel for Avalon, LEAF, and Wellness Within 
ebreen@sbdefence.ca<\/a>  
709-739-4141 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kristina Fifield 
Trauma Therapist, Avalon Sexual Assault Centre 
kristina@avaloncentre.ca<\/a> 
902-223-2587 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Resources<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avalon Fact Sheet on Victim Blaming<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Women\u2019s Shelters Canada, \u201cNova Scotia Mass Casualty Commission: When Will We Stop Blaming Survivors?\u201d<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Pixel Project, \u201c16 Ideas and Actions To Avoid and Stop Victim Blaming\u201d<\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime, \u201cVictim Blaming in Canada\u201d<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton, \u201cVictim Blaming\u201d<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

About the Women\u2019s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Women\u2019s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF) is a national not-for-profit that works to advance the equality rights of women, girls, trans, and non-binary people in Canada through litigation,\u202flaw reform,\u202fand public legal education.\u202fSince 1985, LEAF has intervened in more than 100 cases that have helped shape the\u202fCanadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. To find out more, visit\u202fwww.leaf.ca<\/a>.\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

About Avalon Sexual Assault Centre<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avalon Centre aspires to a world in which individuals are empowered and mobilized to share responsibility in creating communities free from sexualized violence and abuse. Avalon Centre provides a leadership role in raising awareness, supporting those who have experienced sexualized violence, and influencing social and systemic change. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using an intersectional feminist lens to analyze and respond to sexualized violence\/abuse and other forms of violence and oppression, Avalon Centre offers a continuum of specialized services, with an emphasis on support, counselling, education, immediate medical care, forensic evaluation, leadership, and advocacy. Our services are available to those affected by all forms of sexualized violence\/abuse, their families, the general public, and other support\/service providers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

About Wellness Within: An Organization for Health and Justice<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wellness Within is a registered non-profit organization that advocates for prison abolition and provides support to women, gender diverse and trans individuals who have experienced criminalization and are pregnant or parenting young children in Nova Scotia. The group began working together in 2012 and we served our first incarcerated client in 2014. WW\u2019s 90+ members include formerly incarcerated people, doulas, health care providers, lawyers, students, researchers, and mentors. WW volunteers have security clearance to provide support at the Nova Institution for Women Federal Prison, the Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility Provincial jail, the Nova Scotia Youth Facility and in the community. WW works in partnership with community and advocacy organizations across Nova Scotia. WW\u2019s mandate includes doula service, public and health professional education about the health impacts of incarceration, community-based research about health and incarceration, and political advocacy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"categories":[],"tags":[99,434],"class_list":["post-22652","news","type-news","status-publish","hentry","tag-equality","tag-gender-based-violence"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nAvalon, LEAF, and Wellness Within call for an end to victim blaming as Mass Casualty Commission proceedings turn to gender-based violence - LEAF<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leaf.ca\/fr\/news\/avalon-leaf-and-wellness-within-call-for-an-end-to-victim-blaming-as-mass-casualty-commission-proceedings-turn-to-gender-based-violence\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"fr_FR\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Avalon, LEAF, and Wellness Within call for an end to victim blaming as Mass Casualty Commission proceedings turn to gender-based violence - 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