In 2021, the BC Society of Transition Houses, Technology Safety Project published “Connectivity, Access and the Impact on BC’s Rural, Remote, and Indigenous Women Experiencing Violence.” The paper recommends policy work that prioritizes connectivity as a safety necessity for anti-violence and emergency preparedness.
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Poverty and economic inequality
For government, RRI communities, private sector, phone and internet providers
Women and Girls in Rural, Remote, and Indigenous (RRI) communities face added barriers to meaningful connectivity due to their rurality.
Recommendation 4: ISPs could consider partnering with RRIs communities to develop alternatives so that communities have increased choices. This could work in conjunction with increased affordable internet and phone plans, as well as related equity and accessibility reviews (Organizations such as Pathways to Technology and The First Nations Technology Council are working in this field).-
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For NGOs, BCSTH, government, private sector, phone and internet providers
Women and Girls in Rural, Remote, and Indigenous (RRI) communities face added barriers to meaningful connectivity due to their rurality.
Recommendation 5: Research whether additional “light” or “lightweight” versions of websites can be developed in order to decrease demand on the internet for individuals trying to access these sites ( CBC news recently launched “CBC Lite” to make news more accessible to rural and remote Canadians. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/introducingcbc-lite-1.5943819)-
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For government
Women and Girls in Rural, Remote, and Indigenous (RRI) communities face added barriers to meaningful connectivity due to their rurality.
Recommendation 6: Revise policies relating to connectivity and expansion goals in order to recognize gender-based and intersectional elements of digital divides, as well as how these relate to violence and anti-violence work. Shift work related to connectivity from a conversation that focuses mainly on economic inclusion and opportunities to one where gender equality and safety is also central.-
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For BCSTH, government, advocacy organizations and NGOs
Lack of meaningful connectivity negatively impacts both service providers and service users.
Recommendation 7: Support meaningful connectivity for anti-violence workers of all abilities and make online training more accessible by providing closed captions on online webinars.-
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For BCSTH, government, advocacy organizations and NGOs
Lack of meaningful connectivity negatively impacts both service providers and service users.
Recommendation 8: For online training or webinars, accommodate varying levels of connectivity by providing text copies of slides (in the description, caption, etc.) in case audio cuts out for anti-violence workers tuning in from RRI communities. Provide copies of slides before the training session so that participants can attend in listen only mode.-
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For BCSTH, antiviolence organizations/member programs
Lack of meaningful connectivity negatively impacts both service providers and service users.
Recommendation 10: Provide spaces for anti-violence workers and organizations in RRI communities to collaborate, interact, and share their experiences in the spirit of mutual support and solidarity; support the implementation of communities of practice for rural membership such as the Safehomes Community of Practice for rural members that BCSTH is organizing. One anti-violence worker voiced that the development of this kind of interaction would be helpful to countering at times urban centric policies and systems.-
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For private sector, government, NGOs, BCSTH
Unique contexts specific to RRI communities result in a different significance of meaningful connectivity, as well as distinct challenges, for women in these communities.
Recommendation 15: Policy work moving forward should prioritize connectivity as a safety necessity for anti-violence work and emergency preparedness. This involves actions such as:- Ensuring that emergency alerts can reach all Canadians, especially those in areas that are increasingly impacted by climate change-aggravated disasters (infrastructure issues)
- Organizing collaborative emergency planning with participation from a variety of sectors including, for instance, the private sector – particularly companies with access to connectivity technology and infrastructure – and anti-violence organizations. As pointed out by the report, this planning should be informed by and reflect Indigenous land knowledge and practices.
- Researching and investing in sustainable and ecologically wise connectivity infrastructure that is resilient to climate change to ensure the maximum possible protection of community members’ wellbeing, especially those most vulnerable to post-crisis violence.
- Researching and developing a plan for women who need to call emergency services for experiences of violence but have no phone or internet as a result of the disaster
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For BCSTH, anti-violence organizations, government
Unique contexts specific to RRI communities result in a different significance of meaningful connectivity, as well as distinct challenges, for women in these communities.
Recommendation 16: Incorporate disaster and emergency planning in anti-violence programs’ policies.-
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