Our Cause

Recent reports show that gender-based-violence is rising while other forms of violent crimes are declining. Gender discrimination and sytemic Inequality is at the root of gender-based-violence.
What is gender based violence?

What is gender based violence?

Gender-based violence is defined as violence that is directed against a person on the basis of their gender or sex, including acts that inflict physical, mental or sexual harm or suffering, threats of such acts, coercion and other deprivations of liberty. It includes physical, sexual and psychological.
What is the difference between gender and sex

What is the difference between gender and sex

The term sex refers to a biological state, while ‘gender’ refers to a sense of identity. Traditional definitions of gender have been binary – male or female. This excludes many individuals whose gender identity does not fall within the binary confines. Our goal is to help open up our communities to embrace and welcome individuals as they see themselves, rather than limiting them to our binary constructs.
The Roots of Gender Based Violence

The Roots of Gender Based Violence

Power is at the root of gender-based violence. Inequality between genders creates unbalanced power dynamics. The history of devaluing women and femininity, while valuing men and masculinity, has created an imbalance of power. Violence, whether verbal, emotional, spiritual, economical, sexual or physical, is often used to maintain this imbalance of power.
Deconstructing The Language of Violence

Deconstructing The Language of Violence

The link between gender and violence is complex. The evidence suggests that language shapes cultural attitudes that reinforce the status-quo and increase the gender gap. Surrey Women’s Centre promotes the deconstruction of inherently discriminating beliefs that widen the gender gap and the inequities that have been normalized.
Why is this important?

Why is this important?

Gender-based violence is a grave human rights violation that can cause long-term and life-threatening injury and trauma to victims/survivors. All human rights and humanitarian actors must ensure that efforts are made from the onset of an emergency to prevent and respond to acts of gender-based violence and provide adequate care, treatment and support to its victims/survivors.

Facts & Figures

82%
Of all survivors of sexual assault are female
80%
Of all sexual assaults are committed by someone the survivor knows
71%
Of women reporting sexual assaults said those assaults had long lasting negative impacts on their lives
50%
1 in 2 women experience sexual assault at least once after the age of 15
30%
Of homeless population in Surrey are female
1%
Less than 1% of sexual assaults experienced by women lead to convictions
6Days
In Canada, 1 woman is killed every 6 days by her intimate partner
6x
Indigenous women are killed at 6 times the rate of non-indigenous women
Surrey Women’s Centre’s Giving Campaigns create an Inspiring Impact in the Community
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Surrey Women’s Centre’s Giving Campaigns create an Inspiring Impact in the Community

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