VAW Programmes

YWCA of Lebanon Shelter gives abused women and children a new start

Marie* (name changed to protect identity) lived an idyllic life in Lebanon. A respected mother, wife and practisicing Christian, she had studied law, drove her own car and owned a savings account.

After 35 years of marriage, Marie’s husband unexpectedly stormed into their bedroom and ripped off the bedcovers. She was ordered to leave the house. Stripped of her dignity, Marie’s world turned upside down and she had no idea where to turn.

“I never expected this would happen to me. I found myself on the streets in my nightclothes,’ says Marie. Seeking refuge, she went to her sister’s house where she felt like a burden. A chance encounter with a nun Marie knew from school days saw her referred to the YWCA of Lebanon Shelter for Abused women and children.

The Shelter run by the YWCA of Lebanon is providing refuge and support to many women like Marie. “ While it is disheartening to face the reality of increasing household violence in Lebanon, we are happy we can provide an immediate response to the needs of destitute women and their children, “ says Mona Khauli, YWCA of Lebanon National Executive Director.

Women who arrive at the shelter come from all walks of life. ‘Referrals came from foreign embassies that need temporary residence for their citizens who are victims of abuse. We also get women from different organisations that offer counselling and legal services to abused women. Over and above these referrals, some victims sought assistance on their own having heard about the Shelter from friends or from the media,” explains Khauli.

Spending time in the Shelter is often a liberating experience for the women. “I was treated like a human being and given all the care I needed’, says Marie. “ My dignity was restored. I was introduced to the Beirut YWCA where I enlisted as a volunteer. I was delegated to help renovate the shelter bedrooms and living area. I felt needed and respected.”

Respect for all the women during their stay is important to the YWCA of Lebanon.“ Counselling is provided on a personal and private level, while general discussions and awareness issues are offered to all members present to develop a group spirit”, says Khauli.

The YWCA of Lebanon supports the women in the shelter throughout the entire time of their stay. “Follow-up with families takes place immediately after a file has been established for the victim, to verify all the information given and begin the process of reconciliation or separation,” says Khauli. “ Reconciliation always takes priority before any major legal steps are taken towards separation from the custodian.”

Reconciliation for the victims is not just a legal process, but also a personal one. “Throughout, my main concern was that my life had lost its purpose. What would I ever live for? The YWCA helped me by providing social and physical needs, but also a vision and skills for a future,” explains Marie.

The YWCA of Lebanon provides skills building for the women in the Shelter. Basic computer training, assistance with job placement and computer classes is part of the training centre. These classes provide women like Marie, the opportunity of a new beginning. “I am proud to say I am advancing in English and computer skills. Soon I will buy a laptop so I can be in touch with my daughters,” Marie says.

The YWCA of Lebanon plans to renovate the shelter and take their work out into the community. “ We want to organise non violence workshops for the disadvantaged children in the city slums of Beirut,” says Khauli.

Although violence against women and children is a harrowing field to work in, Khauli can see the difference the YWCA is making to those who call the shelter home. “Sometimes we encounter difficulties, but when you hear stories like Marie’s, then we see women’s lives are changing because of the Shelter.”

YWCA Canada : Stop violence against women

YWCA Canada launched a national "Rose Button" campaign in 2009 calling on the Harper government to develop an action plan to stop violence against women.

Paulette Senior, CEO of YWCA Canada said a "major societal shift" is needed to end the problem and federal action now will save lives. "Ending violence against women requires a major shift in our thinking as a society," said YWCA Canada CEO Paulette Senior. "Violence must be treated as unacceptable behaviour whenever and wherever it occurs."

Senior pointed to the direct connections between poverty, lack of low-cost childcare, and women's ability to protect themselves against violence. "Every woman needs a safe place to live, a door she can lock to shut out violence, whether she is fleeing an assaultive partner or struggling to get off the street," said Senior. "Homelessness is never safe for women."

The campaign urges Canadians to e-mail their MPs a virtual rose on December 6 - the 19th anniversary of the Montreal massacre, in which gunman Marc Lepine shot 14 women dead. "To prevent violence before it starts, it must be treated as unacceptable behaviour whenever and wherever it occurs," said a YWCA Canada statement. "Women need full equality in practice, not just in law. That means equal pay, not 73 cents of each dollar earned by men. More than a third of families led by single mothers live below the poverty line."

The YWCA quoted federal government statistics estimating the medical costs of violence against women at $1.1 billion a year, plus $4 billion annually for criminal justice, social services, and lost productivity.

It says governments can help women establish independent, violence-free households by ensuring they can find jobs, affordable childcare, safe and affordable housing, and have adequate financial support.

The campaign encourages people to speak up against violence in their communities, encourage perpetrators to get help, teach girls to protect themselves, and "raise children who can resolve conflict without violence."

It also says people should speak out against negative media images of women and girls and promote women's economic and political equality.

YWCA Canada reports:

-More than 31,000 incidents of spousal violence against women were reported to police in 2006. It is estimated that over 70 per cent of incidents go unreported.

-Almost 40 per cent of women in Canada who reported assault by a partner said their children witnessed the violence and the woman feared for their lives in half those cases.

"Canada is not yet a safe country for women," says Senior. "The government should not wait until the twentieth anniversary of December 6th to take steps toward a coordinated national action plan. Implementation now will save lives."

'Rosealley 76' and Week without Violence in Finland

The YWCA of Finland introduced a new exhibition on domestic violence for the YWCA Week Without Violence 2009. 'Rosealley 76' is a home with furniture and objects making it feel you have stepped inside a family residence.

The unwanted but usual family member in that home is violence. The facts about why this happens, who does this, what can be done, when this may happen and where to get help are written on cards on the objects, furniture and walls. Visitors can read them and feel "the thorns on family bliss". The idea is from Germany, Brot für die Welt organisation. The YWCA of Finland has bought the licence and rents this exhibition to other organisations for further use and display.

Local YWCAs in Lahti, Vääksy and Helsinki have erected the first exhibitions of Ruusukuja 76. The Finnish YWCA-Week Without Violence was pre-celebrated in Helsinki in October 6-12 together with the Lutheran Church of Finland under the Decade to Overcome Violence (DOV).

The Helsinki exhibition drew 250 visitors. Many people asked questions on how to raise children in a non-violent way without loosing parental authority. The YWCA of Finland also produced a 20-page manual on the activities of the week, which carries the main message of ‘raising children without violence’. This year it is called "Peace for Every Day".

YWCA of Kenya offers Alternative Rite of Passage to girls and women

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates, about three million girls are at risk of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) annually in Africa. In Kenya, where FGM is practiced in more than three quarters of the population, the YWCA of Kenya challenges the practise through awareness and advocacy actions in regions with high prevalence rates.

Numerous international conventions and programmes of action condemn FGM as a harmful traditional practice and serious violation of human rights of girls and women. One challenge in the effort to end FGM is to establish a dialogue with people, to make them aware of the negative consequences of FGM and to win over public opinion-makers. The YWCA of Kenya is implementing a project responding to these challenges and reaches out to communities through existing women and youth groups to provide educational seminars.

A special focus is given to girls by providing a detailed weeklong training referred to as “Alternative Rite of Passage seminar”. Girls are identified through schools by teachers and parents to and are taken through a series of modules based on a training manual developed by the YWCA of Kenya which covers: sexual and reproductive health education, FGM awareness knowledge, demystifying myths, effects of FGM, legal implications and creating awareness on children’s rights and protection from FGM.

The YWCA of Kenya also partners with government, churches and schools as part of their strategy to raise awareness of the impact of FGM on young women and girls. This ensures effective implementation of the programme, where all key persons involved in the welfare of the community are involved and engaged in the fight against the practise of FGM.

In addition, the YWCA of Kenya uses media and public campaigns to address the issues and has develop anti FGM messages such as “Say no to Female Genital Mutilation” that are disseminated through t-shirts, caps, posters and wrapping.

Through the efforts of the YWCA of Kenya, over 500 girls have undergone the “Alternative Rite of Passage” seminar since 2006 and graduated from the three communities targeted in the project - the FGM prevalence rates in the YWCA project districts range from 93-96% in Kisii and Maasai communities to 42% in Meru. Positive results have been reported within the communities opening up to the YWCA intervention and community leaders, especially teachers are supporting the project and actively participating. Teachers from other schools and decision makers invited during trainings are requesting the YWCA to visit their schools and communities to organise similar trainings and plans are underway to work with more schools.