From April 24 to 30, 2022 Volunteer Canada celebrates Canada’s 24 million volunteers during National Volunteer Week (NVW).  This annual celebration is a time to thank and recognize volunteers from coast to coast. This year’s theme Volunteering is Empathy in Action highlights how this profoundly human connection is at the heart of healthier individuals and stronger communities.

Our volunteer and supporter, Lisa Toma is being featured on 1059 The Region in honour of National Volunteer Week. Tune in on Tuesday and Thursday to learn about the incredible impact our volunteers have on our community.

Victim blaming is when the victim(s) of a crime is held responsible for the crimes perpetrated against them. It can take many forms, but it usually entails someone saying, suggesting, or treating someone who has undergone harmful or abusive behaviour (e.g., a sexual violence survivor) as if it was caused by something they did or said. This blame can take the form of negative responses from immediate family members, acquaintances, mass media, social media, as well as legal, medical, and mental health professionals. It involves questioning victims of violence, particularly sexual violence, regarding their behaviour and what they could have done to prevent the violence.

Here are some instances of how victim blaming might sound.

Women are frequently blamed for their abusive male partner's actions in cases of intimate partner violence. Male offenders commonly blame their partner and claim their partner deserved the abuse, rather than taking responsibility for their actions. Questions like "Why didn't she just leave?" are also prevalent in these cases. These are devaluing actions that absolve the perpetrator of responsibility.

Victim blaming is especially visible in cases of sexual assault. Female victims are blamed for being provocative, seductive, suggestive, teasing, or "asking for it.” When a case of sexual harassment or rape is brought to court, the victim's attire, lifestyle, and sexual background are likely to be viewed as more significant than the incident itself.

Victim blaming is not only unhelpful, but also quite destructive. Numerous survivors of sexual abuse fear a negative response, such as not being believed or being blamed, which is one of the many reasons why 97% percent of sexual assaults in Canada are never reported to law enforcement. We also know that sexual assault is tragically very common, with one out of every three girls experiencing sexual abuse or assault by the age of 18.

Victim blaming attitudes makes it more difficult for the victim to come forward and report the abuse. It also purposefully moves the focus away from holding the offender responsible for the harm they cause. As a result, shifting the emphasis of responsibility from the victim to the perpetrator is critical in ensuring that the offender is held accountable for the crime they have committed.

Oh and did we mention JULLY BLACK is performing? That's right - you do not want to miss this!!!

P.S. VIP Bags are on sale and they're selling out fast! Get them before it's too late, there are only a limited number available! Our Silent Auction is also open, so get your bids in!

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