Author page: Shannon

Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres (OCRCC) is concerned to learn of violent incidents coinciding with the beginning of the school term at Western University. The university “is investigating reports of sexual violence reported over social media”; more, local officials note that in addition to this, “four unrelated reports of sexual violence were received in…

Newmarket’s Abuse Hurts is preparing for the annual Take Back the Night York Region, which is taking on a different form this year as COVID-19 pandemic restrictions continue.  Instead of a march on the street against gender-based violence, agencies from across York Region are making videos of their own mini-marches that will be shown at the virtual event Sept.…

In recent weeks, we have been witness to both historical and recent violence against Indigenous individuals and communities. Many of these atrocities have particularly affected Indigenous women, children, and gender-diverse people. Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres OCRCC) stands in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples and their communities in the face of these acts of violence.…

Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres has created a Statement on Sex Work and Sex Trafficking. This Statement helps to: Clarify OCRCC centres' position on sex work, i.e. Sex work is real work, we support decriminalization Identify the systemic impacts of criminalization and sex work stigma Identify how sex work is distinct from human trafficking  OCRCC-Sex-Work-and-Sex-Trafficking-Statement-Download

OCRCC has significant concerns about Bill 251, Combating Human Trafficking Act, 2021. While the stated intent of Bill 251 is to combat human trafficking and provide support for survivors, a close examination of the bill conveys a largely criminal justice understanding of human trafficking only. This limits community-based solutions, including options for those who have experienced trafficking. In…