Effective Communication
Communication between people who have separated is often challenging. When there has been abuse, it can be especially difficult and may raise safety concerns.
In these situations, communication is not always just about parenting. An abusive ex-partner may use contact to continue patterns of control, including pressure, blame, intimidation,
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Last summer, Luke’s Place heard from frontline workers across Ontario about their experiences supporting survivors in family court and helping them find a lawyer. A total of 104 frontline workers responded to our online survey, and 24 workers participated in our focus groups. What we heard from nearly all these workers was how challenging it is for survivors to find a family law lawyer to represent them.
What it does
Bill C-223 proposes changes to Canada’s Divorce Act, so family court decisions better protect children and survivors of family violence.
Some of the changes this Bill proposes include:
Lawyers having to screen for family violence risk early in a case
Helping judges recognize coercive control and how it affects children
Putting more weight on children’s views,
Each year, Mental Health Awareness (May 4-10) invites us to pause and reflect on how we care for ourselves and one another. For those working on the frontlines of intimate partner violence (IPV), this week carries a deeper weight.
At Luke’s Place we see every day how the family law system intersects with trauma.
May is recognized as Sexual Violence Prevention Month in Ontario and across Canada. This is an important time to raise awareness about the prevalence of sexual violence and to strengthen efforts to support survivors and prevent harm.
Sexual violence is deeply gendered. Women, girls, and gender-diverse people are far more likely to experience sexual violence than men.
Understanding how survivors experience the family law system is essential to improving access to safety and justice.
Over the past three years, Luke’s Place has partnered with Dr. Mavis Morton from the University of Guelph to conduct a province-wide research project exploring the family law experiences of women and gender-diverse survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) with intersecting identities.
Women face many barriers, challenges, and forms of violence in relationships with abusive partners, during and after leaving, and while navigating family court. Trans women experience higher rates of violence than cisgender women, with Black and Indigenous transgender women facing some of the highest levels of harm.
The following statistics come from national survey research on intimate partner violence experienced by transgender people in Canada.
On March 30, 2023, the Nova Scotia Mass Casualty Commission released its landmark final report, Turning the Tide Together, offering a wide-ranging and deeply grounded blueprint for how Canada could better prevent and respond to violence in all its forms, especially gender-based, intimate partner, and family violence.
International Women’s Day, celebrated annually on March 8th, is a global day recognizing the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women while advocating for gender equality.
International Women’s Day is also a time to uplift organizations working on the front lines to advance women’s rights and safety. True equality cannot be achieved while women continue to experience violence in their homes and communities.
March marks National Social Work Month, a time to recognize the dedication, compassion, and expertise of social workers everywhere. At Luke’s Place, we are incredibly fortunate to work alongside talented and committed social workers who support women and children navigating the family court system after experiencing intimate partner violence.
Their work is complex, emotionally demanding,
