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Reports
Study on the Experiences of Abused Women in the Family Courts in Eight Regions in Ontario
This report was produced by Molly Dragiewicz, Ph.D. and Walter DeKeseredy, Ph.D. for Luke’s Place Support and Resource Centre for Women and Children.
This report documents and analyzes the experiences of abused women who are negotiating the family court system in eight regions of Ontario. It also includes information from advocates in each of these regions. The study was undertaken in order to identify gaps in existing services to victims and enhance accessibility and service quality for abused women in the family court system.
Our findings are based on survey research with 132 survivors and 98 community advocates. Based on these findings, we identify and discuss primary areas where the needs of abused mothers are currently unmet in Ontario, with harmful consequences to mothers and children.
Read more...English
Read more...French Version
Needs Assessment and Gap Analysis For Abused Women Unrepresented in the Family Law System: Final Report and Recommendations
Funded by the Ontario Victim Services Secretariat, Ministry of the Attorney General
Funding for this Project is provided by the Government of Ontario, Ministry of the Attorney General,
Ontario Victim Services Secretariat Community Grants Program. The views and opinions
expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the Government of Ontario.
@Queens Printer, 2008
March 2008
Partner abuse does not end just because a woman leaves her abusive partner. An abusive man frequently continues or even escalates his abuse at the point of separation and for some time after. Abused women involved with family law must deal with a complicated legal process while also dealing with their abuser’s attempts to harass, control and intimidate them, using the court process itself as an instrument of control. Read more...
A Needs Gap Assessment Report on Abused Women Without Legal Representation in the Family Courts
RESEARCH REPORT March 2008
This report was produced by Molly Dragiewicz, Ph.D. and Walter DeKeseredy, Ph.D. for Luke’s Place Support and Resource Centre.
This report documents and analyzes the experiences of abused mothers in Ontario who are negotiating the family court system without legal representation. It also includes information from advocates, family court support staff, family law judges, and lawyers. The study was undertaken in order to identify gaps in existing services to victims and enhance accessibility and service quality for abused women in the family court system. Read more...
Through the Looking Glass The Experiences of Unrepresented Abused Women in Family Court: Final Report and Recommendations
Completed by Luke’s Place Support and Resource Centre for The Denise House Funded by Ontario Victim Services Secretariat, Ministry of the Attorney General March 2008
It takes all the running you can do to keep in the same place. i
For women without legal representation their experience in family court is not unlike Alice’s experiences through the looking glass. They, like Alice, feel that they are running and running, only to stay in the same place if not move backwards.
As Alice said when she first looked through the mirror: “First, there’s the room you can see through the glass – that’s just the same as our drawing room, only the things go the other way. I can see all of it when I get up on a chair – all but the bit behind the fireplace. Oh! I do so wish I could see that bit!”ii Read more...
In The Centre of the Storm - Durham Speaks Out; A Community Response to Custody and Access Issues Affecting Woman About Survivors and Their Children.
In September 1997, in Durham Region, a Community Coalition formed and began a community dialogue regarding custody and access issues in situations where woman abuse was involved. Out of these discussions it became apparent that any recommendations for change must be grounded in the voice of the experts - those who survived woman abuse and proceeded through the custody and access process.
One of the results of this project was the recommendation for establishing a central information and resource centre which was later unanimously endorsed by all of the conference participants. It was also proposed that the resource centre be called "Luke’s Place".
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