Ontario's Roundtable on Violence Against Women, the first permanent government roundtable of its kind, held its inaugural meeting on March 31, 2015 to begin advising the government on emerging issues of gendered violence.
The roundtable is co-chaired by Sly Castaldi and Farrah Khan, well-known violence against women advocates. It also comprises representatives from 22 provincial umbrella organizations in the violence against women sector, as well as experts from other sectors to speak about issues affecting specific populations.
Co-Chairs
Sly Castaldi, is the Executive Director of Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis and the recipient of a Diamond Jubilee Medal. Sly has been involved in the anti-violence sector for 24 years. She is Chair and Founding Member of the Legal Clinic of Guelph and Wellington County, and the Guelph-Wellington Action Committee on Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence. She also serves as Executive Member of the Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centers and was appointed to Ontario's Domestic Violence Advisory Council.
Farrah Khan has 16 years of experience addressing gender-based violence and holds a Master's degree from the University of Toronto, Faculty of Social Work. As a counsellor and advocate at the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic, she supports survivors of violence as the coordinator of Outburst! Young Muslim Women's Project. For her community work, Farrah was presented with the Toronto Community Foundation's Vital People Award and the Urban Alliance on Race Relations Community Award.
Member Organizations
Action ontarienne contre la violence faite aux femmes is a feminist and Francophone group of organizations working to promote action and deliver resources for French-speaking women in Ontario, who have experienced violence.
The Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic is a specialized clinic for women experiencing violence. It assists thousands of women annually through counselling, legal representation and language interpretation.
Canadian Federation of Students provides students with a united voice, provincially and nationally.
Canadian Women's Foundation provides funding for programs that empower women and girls in Canada to move out of violence, out of poverty and into confidence.
Centre for Research and Education on Violence Against Women and Children, Western University is Ontario's centre of excellence for research, public education and training on violence against women.
DisAbled Women's Network Ontario is a volunteer-driven, feminist organization promoting social justice, human rights and the advancement of equality rights through education, research, advocacy, coalition-building, resource development and information technology.
Egale Canada Human Rights Trust is promoting lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) human rights through research, education and community engagement.
Luke's Place helps women who have experienced violence throughout the court process. They also provide training and resources on family court advocacy to service providers across Ontario.
Maggie's Toronto Sex Workers Action Project is run by and for local sex workers, to help them in their efforts to work safely and with dignity.
Metropolitan Action Committee on Violence Against Women and Children works with individuals, communities and institutions across Ontario on public education and prevention initiatives to change ideas, actions and policies, with the goal of ending violence against women and youth.
Older Women's Network is a voice for mid-life and older women that challenges discrimination on the basis of age, gender, religion or disability.
Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses works with its member agencies to educate and promote change in all areas that abused women and their children see as important to their freedom from violence.
Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres is a provincial network of community Rape Crisis/Sexual Assault Centres committed to leading social transformation that prevents and eliminates sexual violence.
Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants acts as a collective voice for agencies that serve immigrants. With more than 200 members across Ontario, it co-ordinates responses to shared needs and concerns.
Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres is a provincial organization representing the collective interests of Aboriginal Friendship Centres in Ontario. It co-leads Ontario's Joint Working Group on Violence Against Aboriginal Women.
Ontario Federation of Labour represents over one million Ontario workers belonging to more than 1,500 locals from 54 affiliated unions, making it Canada's largest provincial labour federation.
Ontario Human Rights Commission delivers public policy on human rights and plays an important role in preventing discrimination. It has the power to monitor and report on anything related to the state of human rights in the province.
Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/ Domestic Violence Treatment Centres provides leadership and support to 35 hospital-based sexual assault and domestic violence treatment centres across Ontario.
South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario provides access to justice for low-income South Asians in the Greater Toronto area. The clinic's services include domestic violence advice and legal representation.
White Ribbon Campaign is the world's largest movement of men and boys working to end violence against women and girls, promote gender equity, healthy relationships and a new vision of masculinity.
Women's College Research Institute's Violence and Health Research Program is a leader in health-based research about violence against women. The program focuses on the impact of violence on women's health and the health system's response to women's needs.
Women's Health in Women's Hands Community Health Centre provides primary healthcare to racialized women from the African, Caribbean, Latin American and South Asian communities in Toronto and surrounding municipalities. |