Relentless Resilience – A Beijing +25 Canadian Parallel Report & CSW64 Parallel Event

relentless resilience - a beijing +25 Canadian parallel report

The Grassroots has spoken.

In February 2020, Aura Freedom submitted an official Beijing +25 Canadian Parallel Report with a focus on gender-based violence entitled ‘Relentless Resilience.

Relentless Resilience is a Beijing +25 Parallel Report that calls for holistic change to address the root causes of gender-based violence (gender inequity, systemic racism, colonialism, ableism, trans/homophobia, capitalism, etc.) and societal power imbalances that uphold the status quo. Our guiding framework is rooted in human rights activism, grassroots excellence, trauma and, of course, resilience. Relentless Resilience aims to highlight the most marginalized women and girls in Canada and the resiliency of them in response to violence, oppression, and indifference. 

Through interviews with frontline social workers and survivor stories from grassroots organizations in the City of Toronto, Canada, our Beijing +25 Parallel Report demonstrates how gender-based violence is impacting all 12 Areas of Critical Concern of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and hindering the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Relentless Resilience can be considered a point of reference for advocacy efforts that call for the eradication of gender-based violence throughout the entire year of Beijing +25, including CSW64 and the Generation Equality Forum taking place in Mexico and France in 2020, and beyond. 

Click here for the report: AF_RelentlessResilience_Beijing25_Cdn_ParallelRpt_Feb2020.pdf

Attending CSW64? Come and meet Aura Freedom on March 13th at the Church Center for the United Nations (Drew Room) at 6:15pm for the launch of Relentless Resilience, where we will present key findings, share resiliency strategies with our colleagues from around the world, and build the feminist movement. All are welcome!

Click here for the flyer:

AuraFreedom_NGO_HandbookAd_6.25×9.25Ad_2020_lores

GBV Across the SDGs​ -A Beijing +25 Initiative

gbv across the sDgs - A beijing +25 initiative

#EndGBVtoAchieveSDGs

Gender-based violence is a National Emergency in Canada. It is affecting every single aspect of Canadian life and the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Grassroots groups have been advocating for change for a long time. We can’t wait any longer.


Gender-based violence is impacting families, communities and entire countries. While global heads of state convene to discuss struggling economies, migration, poverty, disease, and climate change, we at the grassroots level know that the eradication of gender-based violence and the empowerment of women and girls can bring increased wealth, health, peace and climate justice to our communities.

Click on the link below to view our snapshot of gender-based violence in Canada across the Sustainable Development Goals and join the movement to end GBV for the benefit of everyone on earth.

AF_RelentlessResilience_Beijing+25_Cdn_ParallelRpt_SDGSnapShot

Ontario Government Human Trafficking Roundtables

Ontario Government Human Trafficking Roundtables

In 2019, Aura Freedom participated in a series of roundtables with the Ontario Provincial Government to inform their new strategy to address human trafficking in the province. As usual, we made sure to advocate for the most marginalized groups and for the strategy to address gender inequality, colonialism, and other root causes of sexual exploitation.

Consulting for Canada’s National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking

Consulting for Canada's National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking

In March 2018, Aura Freedom presented to the Federal Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights for their national human trafficking study. Our recommendations focused on how gender inequality, systemic racism and other root causes perpetuate violence against women and girls and human trafficking. In September 2018, the Canadian Federal Government concluded the study with a summit where Aura Freedom consulted on a new national strategy. In 2019, the Federal Government released its National Strategy To Combat Human Trafficking 2019-2024.

The Peer Prevention Project

THE PEER PREVENTION PROJECT

Suggested citation: Aura Freedom. (2021). Aura Freedom’s Human Trafficking Peer Prevention Project. Fourth Edition. Lecture presented in Toronto.

When addressing gender-based violence sexual exploitation and human trafficking, Aura Freedom’s HTPPP goes deep to the root of the issue: inequality. Patriarchy, gender inequality, systemic racism, colonialism, homo/transphobia, ableism, classism, and capitalism are all actively contributing to gender-based violence and human trafficking.

Aura Freedom, we know and understand these root causes.

We also know that it is very difficult to traffic and exploit an empowered person. 

Through this project, Aura Freedom has trained, mentored and coached a team of young women from different marginalized communities to facilitate gender-based violence prevention workshops in schools, shelters, and other youth spaces in the city. These youth facilitators come from diverse backgrounds and some have various lived experience including human trafficking and violence, which gives them unique insight to address human trafficking in their communities. 

 “Being a young, Black Muslim woman and being in a position to educate young folks has been truly life-changing. My main mission is to highlight to youth that when we are empowered, we can do anything.” Asha Dahir, Former HTPPP Project Coordinator.

Youth who are ready to contribute to society must be empowered to do so. It is crucial to provide them with the opportunity to make a difference. Not only does it benefit them and their families, but programs for youth are much more powerful when delivered by youth themselves. Viewing young people as agents of change can shift the course of an entire nation.

By entering youth spaces and providing education developed “for youth by youth”, Aura Freedom’s youth team creates an environment where students learn from people who look like them and sometimes, when our facilitators feel comfortable, might even hear stories of personal experience, ensuring the greatest possible impact. In a word: prevention. 

Due to the powerful nature of the Peer Prevention Project’s awareness, the different lived experiences of the facilitators and the unique safe space created, we often have disclosure of sexual violence and human trafficking from youth, who are provided with immediate access to crucial services. The youth team travels with a trained trauma counsellor who is there to receive disclosures and provide the appropriate support. 

We have partnered with the Toronto Rape Crisis Centre and other freelance counsellors to provide this service, which has proved to be essential to the project. The counsellors are also there to support the project staff themselves.

In 2019 alone, the Peer Prevention Project operated in over 36 youth spaces across Toronto with 2,000+ participants. From those 36 presentations, 19 survivors of sexual exploitation, human trafficking and sexual violence came forward and were referred to crucial services. 

Grassroots, youth power.

The project’s disclosure rate shows the prevalence of the problem and the power of youth-led programming that focuses on addressing the root causes of violence, as opposed to focusing on the crime of human trafficking itself. 

More importantly, gender-based violence and human trafficking is prevented through empowerment, increased self-esteem, and increased knowledge of equality, colonization, racism, consent, and healthy relationships. This impact cannot fully be measured as these changes are internal, but the result in time will be a massive generational shift.

Let us not forget about the impact the project has had on our youth facilitators, who increased their knowledge and capabilities, while changing the trajectory of their lives. Some used their lived experience, things which normally stigmatized them, to become true agents of change; while all of them improved their skill sets, increased their self-worth, and empowered their communities.

“The Peer Prevention Project has opened even my eyes to just how many girls are affected by human trafficking,“ says Marlena Hendry, one of the project’s Youth Facilitators. “Working on this team and empowering younger girls makes me feel more empowered, too. And it helps to know that, as a survivor of human trafficking myself, what happened to me wasn’t my fault.”

The ripple effects of this work will be seen for years to come. When women and girls know their worth, they are empowered to make their own decisions. When youth are able to recognize what a healthy relationship is, they understand what their own relationship may be lacking. When young men understand the meaning of consent, they act more responsibly. When Indigenous youth understand how their ancestors’ history has impacted them today, they demand better. When LGBTQ2S+ youth feel a sense of community, they can lead vibrant lives free from violence.

See our 2019-2020 Project Impact Report here: Peer Prevention Project 2019/2020

See our 2018-2019 Project Impact Report here: Peer Prevention Project 2018/2019

THE Peer Prevention Project

Book a human trafficking training workshop for your school, organization, agency or business.
Book Now

Human Trafficking Exit & Healing – Nepal

Human Trafficking Exit & Healing – Nepal

It is important to note that Aura Freedom does not participate in “rescue industry” activities. We meet survivors where they are, recognizing their diverse backgrounds, stories, and choices. We also refute the patriarchal ‘victim narrative’ that has a limited view of what trafficking and trafficked persons look like.

Our Human Trafficking Exit & Healing program in Nepal works on the frontlines in the fight against human trafficking, supporting the liberation and rehabilitation of survivors of human trafficking through our agents and partners, Maiti Nepal.

The program encompasses the entire exit and rehabilitation process, including:
-Investigation of missing girl or woman
-Brothel visit (if necessary)
-Repatriation of Survivor
-Rehabilitation of Survivor – physical, emotional and spiritual- this rehabilitation includes sustainable empowerment programs and vocational training for Survivors run by Survivors themselves – training includes sewing, handicraft making, farming, gardening, cooking, dancing, computer-based courses and more
-Basic education of Survivors and their children
-Awareness campaigns in rural communities in high-risk areas for human trafficking and border patrol at high-risk checkpoints – all facilitated by Survivors themselves
-Conviction of traffickers in some cases

The Empowerment of Survivors of gender-based violence is our passion, and we believe that Survivors can contribute beautiful and important things to society. Through local women and advocates, Aura Freedom conducts Empowerment Programs with Survivors which increase their self-worth, confidence and remind Survivors just how amazing they all are. After leaving exploitation is when new life begins, and we believe that empowered and educated Survivors are some of the most powerful weapons in the fight against human trafficking.

Our country agents, Maiti Nepal, have been working tirelessly for over 20 years, fighting human trafficking and slavery on every level. Its founder, CNN Hero Anuradha Koirala, and her team have changed the lives of thousands of girls; patrolling borders, visiting child exploitation brothels, rehabilitating survivors, even changing the way the police are trained in Nepal. We are honoured to have Anuradha and Maiti Nepal as our partners.

Female Friendly Spaces in Post-Quake Nepal

Female Friendly Spaces in Post-Quake Nepal

Post-Earthquake Support, Protection, Education and Empowerment for Women and Girls in Nepal

THE PROBLEM

Gender-based violence increases in emergencies because of the exacerbation of inequities, displacement of communities, absence of law and order, lack of adequate basic services, and the breakdown of social support networks. As a result, women and girls of all ages need protection, support, and access to services in emergencies. Those from marginalized communities are increasingly vulnerable. 8,000,000 people were affected by the 2015 earthquakes in Nepal and 40,000 are women and girls in our area of work were at immediate risk of violence.

THE PROJECT

This project provided multiple Female Friendly Spaces (FFS) in various post-earthquake camps in Nepal where women and girls could go to report incidences of violence, seek services, be referred to medical care or trauma counselling, attend awareness workshops and feel safe. The FFS also provided activities for children and temporary shelter for women and girls. In emergency situations, violence against women and girls increases drastically, as well as harmful practices such as child marriage.

The Female Friendly Spaces brought awareness to the growing problem of gender-based violence both in general and within the camps through workshops and activities for women and their children, an awareness campaign directed at all camp residents, and theatrical performances that shed light on violence against women and harmful practices. The space also served as a 24-hour place of protection and referral agency with gender-trained staff who referred women and girls of all ages to health, legal and other services available to them through our collaboration with Apeiron Nepal, local Police and other local NGOs.

Each FFS targeted the entire camp community, with a focus on women and girls. It decreased the risk of gender-based violence in the camps and increased access to services for female survivors of violence. It also reduced the stigma associated with sexual violence by providing women with human rights awareness and support, and by providing the whole camp community with education. Providing women and girls with education and access to services empowers them to protect themselves and their fellow community members. Educating communities reduces violence for years to come and bring awareness to human rights abuses like child and forced marriage.
Aura Freedom is grateful to have had the support of Global Affairs Canada in our fight against gender-based violence and gender inequality in support of the world’s most vulnerable girls and women.

CAMP SISTERHOOD
Discover this stunning photographic look at the Female Friendly Spaces in action. Photos by Mandy Glinsbockel on assignment for Aura Freedom International.
VIEW NOW

Outreach, Knowledge, Change – Nepal

Outreach, Knowledge, Change – Nepal

Advancing gender equality through information, education, access to services and access to justice for women and girls in Dhading, Nepal.

THE PROBLEM

Aura Freedom’s Female Friendly Spaces project in response to the 2015 earthquakes in Nepal saw tremendous success. While the state of emergency declared after the earthquakes ended in 2016, things were hardly back to “normal” and there continued to be exacerbation of existing patriarchal issues.

These deeply rooted ideals that view women and girls as lesser beings have resulted in ongoing violence and oppression, making them exceptionally vulnerable to such crimes as child marriage, rape, and human trafficking. This also significantly increases rates of unwanted and early pregnancies, STIs, and reproductive health complications. Despite the time that has passed, we were still dealing with families who had lost everything to the earthquake and continue to experience shortages of food and water, in addition to lacking adequate shelter, all of which increases the vulnerability of girls and women to human trafficking, child marriage and exploitation.

THE PROJECT

After having previously witnessed such life-altering change on a daily basis, we knew our work had to continue. As a result, we launched a powerful Outreach program targeting gender-based violence (GBV), gender disparity, and lack of access to services for women and girls, expanding our reach into new communities where GBV is rampant, and access to services and education are much needed.

Entitled Outreach, Knowledge, Change, the project provided education, access to services, and life skills in a safe space where vulnerable women and girls could go to report incidences of violence, seek services, attend educational workshops, obtain identification documents through vital registration, learn skills, and feel supported. It also served as a roving referral agency that refers women and girls of all ages to health, legal, and other services available to them through our collaboration with local NGOs, Police, and other government agencies. Our core project staff were all specifically trained on gender equity and equality, gender-based violence, trauma informed / survivor-centered approaches, group counselling, and were all well-known within the communities.

Aura Freedom is a firm believer in the power of knowledge and education. As such, this project aimed to address the issues of GBV, gender disparity, and social discrimination through a variety of daily awareness sessions and related activities. These included:

  • Human and legal rights awareness
  • GBV, rape, and violence against women awareness
  • Harmful cultural practices, social discrimination, and gender equality awareness
  • Health, hygiene, and family planning awareness (including reproductive and menstrual health)
  • Adolescent mentorship program using socially and physically interactive activities
  • Confidence building
  • Training of GBV Watch Groups, which act as advocates for keeping their communities safe

The program’s daily activities focused on girls and women as we aimed to foster an environment of sisterhood and community among women experiencing similar injustices. However, Aura Freedom recognizes the importance of including boys and men in the conversation on gender equality. Therefore, community-wide awareness sessions were also held once a month to expose men and boys to this crucial information, increasing their awareness of women’s rights, GBV and the gender disparity in their own communities. Despite the existing patriarchy, our Female Friendly Space data showed a significant increase in knowledge of gender-based violence and human rights, awareness of gender disparity, and a positive shift in attitudes towards gender equality in both women and men. These results clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of including men and boys among project participants to create positive social change.

THE RESULTS

In providing ongoing education and information dissemination in a safe space, girls and women will experience an increased awareness of their rights and the services available to them. With this knowledge, they become empowered, more likely to report incidences of violence and reclaim ownership of their lives. Furthermore, when entire communities learn of not only the prevalence of gender disparity, but its associated repercussions for both females and the communities at large, the cycle of violence and gender inequality can be broken. Education is absolutely critical for achieving this.

Aura Freedom is grateful to have had the support of Global Affairs Canada in our fight against gender-based violence and gender inequality in support of the world’s most vulnerable girls and women.