Vancouver Rape Relief & Women's Shelter: Difference between revisions
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'''Vancouver Rape Relief & Women's Shelter''' is Canada's oldest [[rape crisis center]], located in [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]], [[Canada]]. The shelter was established in 1973 and has operated a [[feminist]] [[Transitional living|transition house]] since 1983.<ref>{{cite book |last1= |first1= |authorlink1= |last2= |first2= |authorlink2= |editor1-first= Rebecca|editor1-last= Whisnant|editor1-link= |others= Christine Stark| |
'''Vancouver Rape Relief & Women's Shelter''' is Canada's oldest [[rape crisis center]], located in [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]], [[Canada]]. The shelter was established in 1973 and has operated a [[feminist]] [[Transitional living|transition house]] since 1983.<ref>{{cite book |last1= |first1= |authorlink1= |last2= |first2= |authorlink2= |editor1-first= Rebecca|editor1-last= Whisnant|editor1-link= |others= Christine Stark|trans_title= |url= http://books.google.com/books?id=oxR9kWK7C_0C&pg=PA429&lpg=PA429&dq=%22Vancouver+Rape+Relief%22&source=bl&ots=rk1qmADQMr&sig=qGDQkS_DhHwc1CwQuag7nCTlu2s&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ovxxUKKPEKe30AHW5YGADA&ved=0CF0Q6AEwCA#v=onepage&q&f=false|archiveurl= |archivedate= |format= |accessdate= October 7, 2012|type= |edition= |series= |volume= |date= |year= |month= |origyear= |publisher= Spinifex Press|location= North Melbource, Victoria|isbn= 1-876-75649-7|oclc= 57139681|doi= |id= |page= 210|pages= |at= |trans_chapter= |chapter= Resisting the promotion of prostitution in Canada: A view from the Vancouver Rape Relief and Women's Shelter*|chapterurl= |quote= Since 1973 the Vancouver Rape Relief and Women's Shelter has been an organizing centre and a 24-hour phone line for women raped and battered. Since 1980 it has also been a feminist transition house. We house women running from abusive men - usually husbands and fathers, but sometimes pimps, johns, landlords, and sons.|ref= |bibcode= |laysummary= |laydate= |author-mask= |display-authors= |postscript= |lastauthoramp= |title=Not for Sale: Feminists Resisting Prostitution and Pornography}}</ref> It describes itself as "an independent women's group, not part of a government service or tied to the [[criminal justice]] system".<ref>{{cite news|title=About Us |url=http://www.rapereliefshelter.bc.ca/about |accessdate= December 20, 2012}}</ref> |
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The group operates a 24-hour confidential [[crisis hotline]] for abused women free of charge. More broadly, the group works to eradicate all [[violence against women]], which it defines as including "[[sexual assault]], [[domestic violence|wife assault]], [[incest]], [[prostitution]], and [[sexual harassment]]".<ref>{{cite news|title=Give/Get Help |url=http://www.rapereliefshelter.bc.ca/givegethelp |accessdate= December 20, 2012}}</ref> According to its website, this mission is accomplished by not only providing housing, education, resources, and support for women, but also by participating in global political struggles around issues of [[Race (human classification)|race]], [[Social class|class]], [[colonialism]], and [[imperialism]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Global Resistance |url=http://www.rapereliefshelter.bc.ca/globalresistance |accessdate= December 20, 2012}}</ref> |
The group operates a 24-hour confidential [[crisis hotline]] for abused women free of charge. More broadly, the group works to eradicate all [[violence against women]], which it defines as including "[[sexual assault]], [[domestic violence|wife assault]], [[incest]], [[prostitution]], and [[sexual harassment]]".<ref>{{cite news|title=Give/Get Help |url=http://www.rapereliefshelter.bc.ca/givegethelp |accessdate= December 20, 2012}}</ref> According to its website, this mission is accomplished by not only providing housing, education, resources, and support for women, but also by participating in global political struggles around issues of [[Race (human classification)|race]], [[Social class|class]], [[colonialism]], and [[imperialism]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Global Resistance |url=http://www.rapereliefshelter.bc.ca/globalresistance |accessdate= December 20, 2012}}</ref> |
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==Legal dispute with Kimberly Nixon== |
==Legal dispute with Kimberly Nixon== |
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In August 1995, Kimberly Nixon filed a complaint with the [[British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal]] against Vancouver Rape Relief & Women's Shelter. Nixon, a [[trans woman]], had been interested in volunteering as a counselor with the shelter. When the shelter learned that she was [[transsexual]], they told Nixon that she would not be allowed to volunteer with the organization. Nixon argued that this constituted illegal [[discrimination]] under Section 41 of the [[British Columbia Human Rights Code]]. Vancouver Rape Relief countered that individuals are shaped by the [[socialization]] and experiences of their formative years, and that Nixon had been socialized as a male growing up, and that, therefore, Nixon would not be able to provide sufficiently effective counseling to the [[cisgender]] women that the shelter served. |
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In 1995, Kimberly Nixon, a postoperative [[transsexual]] woman signed up to volunteer for the front lines and transition house of Vancouver Rape Relief. She was rejected from the training program because she did not share the same life experiences as women born and raised as girls and into womenhood but if interested she was able to volunteer in other ways. |
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The Tribunal found in Nixon's favour and issued her an award of $7,500. Vancouver Rape Relief appealed this decision to the [[Supreme Court of British Columbia]], which repealed the Tribunal's verdict and ruled in the favour of the shelter. After this, Nixon appealed to the [[Supreme Court of Canada]], which on February 1, 2007 denied her appeal. Vancouver Rape Relief's lawyer, Christine Boyle, applauded the Supreme Court's decision, saying that the "right to organize has been confirmed and is under protection of the law". Nixon's attorney, barbara findlay{{refn|group=note|findlay spells her name without capitals.<ref>{{cite web|last1=findlay|first1=barbara|title=About Me|url=http://www.barbarafindlay.com/about-me.html|website=barbara findlay Q.C.|accessdate=25 December 2017}}</ref>}}, said she was disappointed with the ruling but optimistic about the long-term: "Ultimately, what is accessible to all women will be accessible to trans women, too... I think this just shows that achieving equality will take a long time for the transgendered. But there will be other cases."<ref>{{cite news|title=Transsexual Loses Fight with Women's Shelter |first=Shannon |last=Rupp |newspaper=[[The Tyee]] |date=3 February 2007 |url=http://thetyee.ca/News/2007/02/03/Nixon/ |accessdate=December 20, 2012}}</ref> |
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That same year, Nixon, filed a complaint with the [[British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal]] against Vancouver Rape Relief & Women's Shelter alleging discrimination based on sex, drawing issue with Rape Relief's right to absolute immunity from human rights legislation because of its political belief. According to the defendants, Rape Relief "met its justification burden of proof, either by demonstrating a bona fide occupational requirement, or by demonstrating that it is immunised from the reach of this complaint by section 41" of the British Columbia Human Rights Code. |
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====Notes==== |
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On 2002, The BC Human Right Tribunal released its decision that Vancouver Rape Relief acted on good faith and had been respectful in their treatment of Kimberly Nixon. However, the tribunal ruled that Vancouver Rape Relief had not proved that life experience as a girl and woman was a necessary pre-requisite to be a peer counselor to raped and battered women and ordered the payment of $7,500 to Kimberly Nixon for hurt feelings. |
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{{reflist|group=note}} |
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On 2003, Vancouver Rape Relief appealed in the [[Supreme court|Supreme Court]] of [[British Columbia]]. At the Supreme Court level they conducted a judicial review of the BC Human Rights Tribunal decision. Later that same year, The Supreme Court set aside the decision of the Human Rights Tribunal, finding that the Tribunal had made an error: Vancouver Rape Relief had not discriminated against Kimberly Nixon and the group does have the right to freedom of association to organize as women only. |
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The court further declined to send the matter back to the Tribunal for a rehearing. The Supreme Court further awarded Vancouver Rape Relief with "costs". Which as of June 2009, Kimberly Nixon has not paid back. |
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== See also == |
== See also == |
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* [[Radical Feminism]] |
* [[Radical Feminism]] |
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* [[Transgender inequality]] |
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* [[Women's Liberation Movement]] |
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* [[Women-only space]] |
* [[Women-only space]] |
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[[Category:Violence against women in Canada]] |
[[Category:Violence against women in Canada]] |
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[[Category:Women-only spaces]] |
[[Category:Women-only spaces]] |
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[[Category:Women's organizations |
[[Category:Women's organizations in Canada]] |
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[[Category:Women's shelters]] |
[[Category:Women's shelters]] |
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[[Category:Women in British Columbia]] |
[[Category:Women in British Columbia]] |
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Revision as of 14:29, 13 January 2018
| Formation | 1973 |
|---|---|
| Type | Rape crisis center |
| Headquarters | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
Region served | Vancouver |
| Website | www |
Vancouver Rape Relief & Women's Shelter is Canada's oldest rape crisis center, located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The shelter was established in 1973 and has operated a feminist transition house since 1983.[1] It describes itself as "an independent women's group, not part of a government service or tied to the criminal justice system".[2]
The group operates a 24-hour confidential crisis hotline for abused women free of charge. More broadly, the group works to eradicate all violence against women, which it defines as including "sexual assault, wife assault, incest, prostitution, and sexual harassment".[3] According to its website, this mission is accomplished by not only providing housing, education, resources, and support for women, but also by participating in global political struggles around issues of race, class, colonialism, and imperialism.[4]
Legal dispute with Kimberly Nixon
In August 1995, Kimberly Nixon filed a complaint with the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal against Vancouver Rape Relief & Women's Shelter. Nixon, a trans woman, had been interested in volunteering as a counselor with the shelter. When the shelter learned that she was transsexual, they told Nixon that she would not be allowed to volunteer with the organization. Nixon argued that this constituted illegal discrimination under Section 41 of the British Columbia Human Rights Code. Vancouver Rape Relief countered that individuals are shaped by the socialization and experiences of their formative years, and that Nixon had been socialized as a male growing up, and that, therefore, Nixon would not be able to provide sufficiently effective counseling to the cisgender women that the shelter served.
The Tribunal found in Nixon's favour and issued her an award of $7,500. Vancouver Rape Relief appealed this decision to the Supreme Court of British Columbia, which repealed the Tribunal's verdict and ruled in the favour of the shelter. After this, Nixon appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada, which on February 1, 2007 denied her appeal. Vancouver Rape Relief's lawyer, Christine Boyle, applauded the Supreme Court's decision, saying that the "right to organize has been confirmed and is under protection of the law". Nixon's attorney, barbara findlay[note 1], said she was disappointed with the ruling but optimistic about the long-term: "Ultimately, what is accessible to all women will be accessible to trans women, too... I think this just shows that achieving equality will take a long time for the transgendered. But there will be other cases."[6]
Notes
See also
References
- ^ Whisnant, Rebecca (ed.). "Resisting the promotion of prostitution in Canada: A view from the Vancouver Rape Relief and Women's Shelter*". Not for Sale: Feminists Resisting Prostitution and Pornography. Christine Stark. North Melbource, Victoria: Spinifex Press. p. 210. ISBN 1-876-75649-7. OCLC 57139681. Retrieved October 7, 2012.
Since 1973 the Vancouver Rape Relief and Women's Shelter has been an organizing centre and a 24-hour phone line for women raped and battered. Since 1980 it has also been a feminist transition house. We house women running from abusive men - usually husbands and fathers, but sometimes pimps, johns, landlords, and sons.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|laydate=,|trans_title=,|laysummary=,|month=,|trans_chapter=,|chapterurl=, and|lastauthoramp=(help) - ^ "About Us". Retrieved December 20, 2012.
- ^ "Give/Get Help". Retrieved December 20, 2012.
- ^ "Global Resistance". Retrieved December 20, 2012.
- ^ findlay, barbara. "About Me". barbara findlay Q.C. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
- ^ Rupp, Shannon (3 February 2007). "Transsexual Loses Fight with Women's Shelter". The Tyee. Retrieved December 20, 2012.