FREE Online Course – 5 weeks online format with certificate upon completion
Instructors: Farrah Khan, MSW, Deepa Mattoo, B.A LLB, MBA, Charlene B. R.R.S.W.
Dates: November 5th – December 3rd 2014
Live class time: Wednesdays 10am – 12 pm
Open to: Ontario service providers, one learner per organization
Cost: FREE, course spots are limited, register early.
Registration: Please email [email protected] by October 24th.
Course Description
“There is No Honour in Violence”: Supporting Survivors of “Honour” Related Violence and Forced Marriage” is conducted in collaboration with the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic (the Clinic) and The South Asian Legal Clinic (SALCO). The training is focused on increasing the safety of young women at risk or experiencing forced marriage and/or “honour” related violence. This training initiative, which is survivor informed, focuses on strategies for effective intervention and support for young women at risk.
“Honour” related violence and forced marriage and their intersection with consent and sexual violence is the central focus of this course. Over 6 weeks we will engage learners on this topic through an online forum, with various teaching and learning tools embedded in the format and delivery. This course is intended for front line practitioners to gain skills and knowledge in working with young diverse women who are fleeing or are currently living in a family violence (i.e. forced marriages, excommunication and/or physical violence). Furthermore, in this course we place these specific forms of violence in the broad spectrum of gender based violence against women. We will encourage learners to challenge current assumptions and stereotypes about forced marriage and “honour” related violence. The course is an opportunity to mobilize a regional response to family violence faced by young women in Canada.
Course Topics & Dates:
- Module 1 November 5th: What is “honour” related violence, forced marriage and what role does consent play in each. What is the intersection of both with sexual violence
- Module 2 November 12th: What are the legal implications for “honour” related violence and forced marriages and how does this impact my practice? Facilitated by Deepa Mattoo, SALCO
- Module 3 November 19th: What are the impacts of “honour” related violence and forced marriage on young racialized women in Canada? Co-facilitated by Charlene B, The Barbra Schlifer Clinic
- Module 4 November 26th: How do I build on my skills as a reflective practitioner so I am better equipped to support young women who are at risk of violence through forced marriage and/or “honour” related violence?
- Module 5 December 3rd: What are the current and most effective interventions and practices for supporting young women fleeing a situation of “honour” related violence or a forced marriage including risk assessment and safety planning? How do we work across disciplines to collaborate, create awareness around “honour” related violence and forced marriages.
Course Learning Objectives
- Gain an in-depth understanding of “honour” related violence and forced marriage.
- Advance users core engagement skills to deal with short term counseling and conducting assessments of young women fleeing violence, as well as long term counseling to cope with the trauma of “honour” related violence and forced marriage.
- Incorporate self-care skills in order to maintain participant’s longevity in the field.
- Encourage participants to see their work along a continuum of social change and engagement with survivors of “honour” related violence and forced marriages.
- Hone concrete skills in safety planning, screening, disclosures, and referrals.
- Explore service delivery models within their organizations to respond to “honour” related violence and to commit to engaging in issues of patriarchy and gender based violence in their current structures.
Course Created and Developed by: Mandeep Kaur Mucina, MSW, PhD Candidate
with Farrah Khan, M.S.W & Deepa Mattoo
Course Instructor
Farrah Kha, M.S.W, is a counsellor, educator and artist that has spent the last 15 years working diligently to raise awareness of gender-based violence including forced marriage and “honour” related violence. Farrah holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Toronto and supports women who are survivors of violence as a counselor/advocate at the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic. At the Clinic Farrah is the Coordinator of the award-winning Outburst! Young Muslim Women’s Project.
Guest Lectures
Deepa Mattoo B.A LLB, MBA is an Acting Executive Director/Staff Lawyer with South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario (SALCO). She has her Masters in Business specializing in corporate social responsibility from Leeds Metropolitan University, UK. She has over 14 years of experience in providing legal services, public education, advocacy and not-for-profit governance. Deepa has been involved with various issues related to domestic violence globally and has been a leading voice on the issue of forced marriages in Canada.
Charlene B. is a counsellor at the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic. She identifies her roots as deeply entrenched in Ghana, West Africa. Charlene has extensive knowledge and experience working with survivors of forced marriage, female genital mutilation. She is passionate about decolonization; demystifying violence against women and walking in solidarity with others working towards social justice and social change.
The Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic (the Clinic) provides legal representation, professional counselling and multilingual interpretation to 5000 women each year. Outburst! Young Muslim Women Program is an award winning program of the Barbra Schlifer Clinic for Muslim women in Toronto who are breaking silence and speaking out about violence. As young Muslim women we want to determine the ways in which we define and access safety. Outburst is an opportunity for us to build community through leadership, art, education and research.
The South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario (SALCO) is a not-for-profit legal aid clinic that was first established in 1999. In September 2007 SALCO was given permanent legal clinic status by Legal Aid Ontario. SALCO’s mandate is to provide access to justice for low-income South Asians in the Greater Toronto area. SALCO has been a leader on the issue of Forced Marriages in Canada and has been leading Network of Agencies Against Forced Marriages in Ontario.
Outburst! Young Muslim Women’s Program workshops series is graciously funded by the Ontario Government through the Ontario Women’s Directorate.
Funded by:
The views expressed in this course are those of the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic and do not necessarily reflect those of the Province.