Providing Survivor Perspectives for Change

Survivor Perspectives Consulting Group is a female veteran owned service provider of training and education teaching not only how to support survivors of gender violence, but also how to affect powerful and sustained change in high-trust, culturally unique environments.

 

Borne from the decades-long crisis of Sexual Misconduct in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), it was apparent that  there is not only an erosion of the necessary trust between the organization and its members, but also for many, a complete lack of understanding how to support those that come forward with disclosures. This shortfall is by and large not intentional - our leaders, peers, and subordinates want to be able to to better provide care for those injured by gender violence. After all, in order to be an effective uniform, we need to know that our team "has our six". 

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We need to be able to trust each other with not only our lives, but also our bodies. 

 

Survivor Perspectives Consulting Group started out as a small group of volunteers, all unfortunate experts in gender violence, including uniform sexual trauma, who wanted to help create positive change. 

 

We had the lived experience, and an idea - what is missing from the current uniform approach to managing this insidious issue, and how can we use our suffering to help others? 

 

Sexual misconduct/Harassment/Assault is not an issue specific to any one environment, it is a problem in society that is sadly nurtured by toxic cultures, and then enabled to flourish, often by complacency. Rules and regulations are not capable of addressing it, because you cannot mandate a movement. Respect and Dignity require more than discipline, or a point-and-click.

 

We need to go deeper. The engagement needs to be human, respectful, safe, and intense. Survivors, once they have progressed far enough in their journey of healing, can help bring a voice and a human side to this issue that is missing from an organizational response by assisting with a workshop through various means. 

 

We can bring the perspective that changes minds, shifts moral compasses, and is proven to be a necessary catalyst to deep introspection, along with a call to action to create a stronger and more inclusive community. 

 

We started, as veterans and still serving members, with the Canadian Armed Forces. 

 

In every External Review, from the Madam Justice Marie Deschamps' Report to the review by The Standing Committee on the Status of Women to the Madam Justice Louise Arbour Report, it was recommended that the Canadian Armed Forces work with survivors towards solutions. Starting in June 2021, we began training groups of approximately 30 class participants at a time, using virtual serials predominantly due to Covid,  of all ranks, trades, Regular Force to Reserve Force, Canadian Rangers, and civilians. We discussed, debated, and adjusted to the changing needs and landscape, but always staying true to two goals:

 

1. Everyone needs to know how to support someone who is victimized with a survivor-first, trauma-informed approach so so they can start to feel empowered, and begin to heal.

2. Everyone needs to understand the roots of sexual misconduct, and how to address the early signs, before someone is victimized and how to identify potential perpetrators. 

 

We have now grown beyond the CAF, training personnel in the United States, deployed members in the Middle East, political staffs, government administrators, and even Ukrainian Gender Advisors, even while they are actively engaged in Combat. 

 

To date, we have trained over 3000 people, across all ranks from brand-new recruits to three-star general, to Assistant Deputy Minsters. We have had all elements and trades, and presented in English, French and translator-assisted Ukrainian. On the horizon is a new venture Survivor Spirits Rising, partnering with RecociliActionS (Indigenous-owned Reconciliation Speakers Bureau) to help bring culturally aware, trauma-informed and survivor-centered training to Indigenous communities across Canada and beyond. 

 

Survivor Perspectives Consulting Group is offering a proven, survivor-borne training solution to the issue of Gender Violence, presenting a unique perspective and a powerful message of accountability and support. 

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