Elizabeth Fry Society of Mainland NS

Published purpose

This 30-month project will support a feminist response and recovery from the current impacts of COVID-19, through systemic changes for those experiencing gender-based violence. The Elizabeth Fry Society of Mainland Nova Scotia will achieve this by developing a work plan, completing a review of Atlantic systemic services with a focus on gender-based violence and human trafficking, establishing a Women’s Lived Experience Advisory Board, developing and executing an Atlantic Feminist Systemic Action Plan and Network, developing de-stigmatizing strategies for long-term sustainability and conducting an ongoing assessment and evaluation. At the end of the project, the organization will have contributed to addressing systemic barriers by increasing networks and collaboration to accelerate systemic change, addressing persistent harmful gender norms and attitudes, supporting positive distribution of authority, voices, and decision-making power and advancing inclusive policies and practices to support women’s equality. Throughout this project, the organization and their peers across the Atlantic provinces will work collaboratively to address and raise awareness on the continued systemic societal barriers and stigma victims and survivors of human trafficking and gender-based violence face. This collaboration will result in new policies and best practices that will be utilized to convey the fragility of the existing systems in place and to support this population through the current impacts of COVID-19.