(Montreal) As part of the fifth anniversary of the global whistleblowing movement #metoo, various community organizations came together on Saturday to denounce the lack of inclusivity and resources for victims of sexual assault during a press conference at the House of Deaf Women of Montreal.
Posted at 5:44pm
Elo Gauthier Lamothe The Canadian Press
National Institute for Equity, Equality and the Inclusion of People with Disabilities (INÉÉI – PSH) Deputy Coordinator Maude Massicotte testified to the inaccessibility of the #metoo movement, especially for women with disabilities.
Although these women are two to three times more likely to be sexually abused, they still do not have access to sex education or adapted resources, Ms Massicotte explained.
Data from the 2017 Canadian Survey on Disability (CIS) shows that people with disabilities make up more than 16% of Quebec’s population. Still, women in this group remain “missing from all government statistics and studies on sexual violence,” she said.
PHOTO BY ALTEREGO.CA
Maude Massicotte, associate coordinator of the National Institute for Equity, Equality and Inclusion of People with Disabilities
According to INÉÉI – PSH demands, the #metoo movement needs to become more inclusive, especially in relation to its documentation. For example, people who communicate in Quebec Sign Language (LSQ) or who have intellectual disabilities have little or no access to information about sexual violence, making them more vulnerable.
Women and girls with disabilities face many barriers to accessing adapted and appropriate services, increasing the risk that sexual violence will persist.
Maude Massicotte, associate coordinator of the National Institute for Equity, Equality and Inclusion of People with Disabilities
Line Bergeron, Executive Director of the Maison des femmes sourdes de Montréal (MFSM), also underlined the lack of knowledge of some people with disabilities regarding their sexuality, their bodies and their rights, which often stems from inadequate sex education.
“For example, during a violence prevention measure [dans une école]”We were surprised to find that young people in the 13-14 age group did not know the definition of the terms ‘victim’ or ‘aggressor’, either in French or in LSQ,” said Ms. Bergeron.
In addition to denouncing various issues related to sexual violence, the media event aimed to recognize the hard work of the Youth Voice Counts group. The group, made up of young racialized women aged 11 to 24, has been mobilizing for more than five years to combat this problem in Quebec schools.
While denouncing the shortcomings of inclusion, Maude Massicotte reiterated her full support for the movement, which she believes is more important than ever. “We strongly believe that this action must be inclusive and allow girls and women with disabilities to enjoy all rights and resources on an equal footing with others,” she concluded.
Various organizations such as the Regroupement québécois des centers d’aide et de Lutte contre les Agresses sxueles (RQCALACS), the Network for Peace and Social Harmony and the Movement for Schools Free of Sexual Violence (MESVS) were also involved, showing the urgency of the situation.
This article was produced with financial support from the Meta Fellowships and The Canadian Press for News.