AWCS host conference to create an awareness

The Alberta Council of Women's Shelters (ACWS) hosted the first World Conference of Women's Shelters from Sept. 8 to 11 at Edmonton's Shaw Conference Centre . The conference room was filled with approximately 800 delegates from women's shelters across the globe. The unique opinions heard from all over the world were shared.
"Overall, people are just thrilled with the opportunity to have their voices heard and of course, women coming together, from all over the world, all speaking out globally, about domestic violence is a much stronger voice then just one shelter here or one shelter there. So, the men and women that work in shelters have found this group to stand beside them to speak the same language, to speak the same words, that we need to make changes in the way that women and children are treated and that domestic violence is wrong," said Patti McClocklin of communications and partnerships for ACWS.
Ann Kasook, the executive director of the Inuvik Transitional House Society and a delegate to the conference from the North West Territories shares in McClocklin's sentiments.
"The thing that strikes me the most is that we are all facing similar situations, similar gaps and seeing that, helps me to realize, especially being from way up north, it helps me to realize that I'm not alone in the walk," said Kasook. "The most important thing I think is to be able to continue the work even though it feels like it is never ending. I guess the biggest thing that I have learned is that we have to continue to move on in order for voices to be heard."
The strong desire to see the needs of deprived women and children met, brought these delegates together and amongst their many differences, they all share something in common, and Gladys Richards agrees. "It is an important issue that they have in common." Richards is a resident family councillor of Discovery House, a violence prevention society located in Calgary.
"I came to this conference because family violence is such a big issue. It's a global issue and it happens to every country, every status, it doesn't matter and I think it's time that we do something about it and learn new techniques and ways to address the issues," said Richards. "The different countries and each shelter have different models, although it's the same issue of family violence and children are affected and we can help the children, they are our future."
Many important issues were discussed including, how to work with the male sex as allies to end violence against women, the needs of children exposed to family violence, trafficking of women and children, workshops on how to help abused women with addictions or disabilities, the situations of Indigenous women around the world and Elder abuse.
"Seniors are often considered a burden, I guess by their families and sometimes they are abused financially, where (their kids) will take control of their money and use it to their own advantage rather then providing for the senior and sometimes the Elders are beaten or abused physically, sometimes emotionally. They are made to feel like they are worthless now, because they have nothing to contribute," said Mcclocklin. "You know there are seniors that are just not treated well."
One of the other issues always strongly felt here in Canada today and perhaps far into the future, is the overwhelming number of Aboriginal women that are abused or homeless.
"I'm hoping that our government will realize the importance of trying to work together. There are women out there who are experiencing violence, and its our children that are going to be the next generation, they are the ones that are learning what they live. Children learn what they live. There is a positive side but there is also a negative side with social problems and issues. I really believe many of the Aboriginal people are faced with so many difficulties because of the residential school situation that many of them have. There is still a lot of pain, a lot of hurt, a lot of anger and a lot of it is taken out to the women and the children which makes it very difficult," said Kasook. "So I'm hoping that out of this conference we will be able to get the government to understand that the social problems that are happening everywhere need to be viewed seriously as well as socio economics, they go hand in hand with the social issues."