About this Newsletter
During the last twenty-four years of training, educating and publishing materials on woman abuse, EWA has learned that children exposed to woman abuse often remain its most vulnerable victims. Mothers who experience woman abuse frequently find a lack of resources, support and sympathy when they seek help for themselves and their children. Many women find that they experience further abuse from systems that exist to protect children. In the last issue of our Newsletter, Vol. 11 (1), we began to explore how woman abuse and child abuse are inextricably linked.
We have chosen to focus this issue on the reality of children exposed to woman abuse to encourage dialogue, provide information on this topic and promote several current resources in the area. With draft legislation before the House of Commons to amend the Divorce Act to recognize “family violence” in determining the “Best Interests of the Child”, it is critical that we take the time to consider and respond to this issue.
We are hoping that this publication will inspire you to advocate for the improvement of Family Law and programs and services for women and children where both abused women and their children are protected.
Notes
1. Throughout this newsletter, we used the terminology “children exposed to woman abuse” rather than “children witnessing woman abuse”, as ‘exposure' is a broader concept in which seeing, hearing and being aware of abuse against a woman are all included and all the various types of exposure affect children.
2. EWA recognizes abuses in same-sex relationship and abuse of men by women. However, as the vast majority of domestic violence cases involve abuse of women by men, this Newsletter addresses woman abuse by men.
3. The opinions expressed in these articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of EWA as an agency.
Many thanks to all the dedicated authors, consultants, editors, research assistants, artists and donors who contributed time, ideas, sweat, tears, smiles and fund to the birth of this Newsletter.
Editorial Committee
Joanne Bacon, Yukyung Kim-Cho, Marsha Sfeir and Beryl Tsang
Layout
Brenda Lee
This issue was funded by donations from:
Air Canada Employee's Charitable Foundation
Canadian Centre for Naturopathic Medicine
The George Lunan Foundation
The J.P. Bickell Foundation
The Sir Jos eph Flavelle Foundation
Sisters of Mercy
Sisters of St. Martha
Staff
Joanne Bacon
Neslyn Burgess
Yukyung Kim-Cho
Jila Khodrang
Erna Opena
Patty Porretta
Marsha Sfeir
Beryl Tsang
Project Staff
Catherine MacKinnon
Fran Odette
Student Placements and Volunteers
Katherine Clemett, Kim-Leang Diep, Sung-Lim Kang, Chie Kato, Diana Kirzner, Samantha Majic, Meri Vella and Sau Wai Tai.
Board Members
Lois Fine
Teboho Mpela
Marilda Tselepis
Jennifer Machado
Emily Chan
Hazelle Palmere
Christa Thomas
Mariella Morales
Anni Lin
Many thanks and accolades to our dedicated and supportive Board of Directors, members, donors, and volunteers.
Staff and Board Changes:
Penney Kirby, who showed excellent systems development and problem-solving skills along with her wit, left our team after contributing to EWA's partnership with the Canadian Health Network. Her replacement, for the Information Services Coordinator's position is Yukyung Kim-Cho, who self-identifies as a “young” immigrant woman of colour. She has worked in the areas of violence against women and sex and gender equity education for the past ten years. Since joining EWA, she cheerfully met the challenge of virus-infected computers with a determined smile. She ambitiously envisions EWA Information Services as a creative, far-reaching and participatory format, which will bring out the voices of marginalized and victimized women.
EWA Board has lost five very active members, Denise Ashby, Cynthia Bettcher, Maria Drosos, Alison Pengelley, and Smita Vir Tyagi . These women made a tremendous contribution to EWA over the past years and will be greatly missed. At the same time, we are pleased to welcome new board members Emily Chan, Anni Lin, Mariella Morales, J. Christa Thomas and Marilda Tselepis . The Board has been further strengthened by the quality of its new members who bring their rich experiences from various fields: mental health law, public interest litigation, fundraising, labour rights, community education and organizing and human resources.
Please contact EWA for a complete hard copy:
publications@womanabuseprevention.com
Telephone: 416.968.3422 x21 |
