Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you for inviting me to testify before the committee.
This morning, my thoughts are with the community of Lebel-sur-Quévillon, where yesterday there was another suspected femicide, followed by a suicide.
I am here to introduce you to L'R des centres de femmes du Québec. Our organization brings together, year after year, 90 women's centres located in 14 administrative regions of Quebec. These autonomous community organizations were created to meet needs that were not met by traditional public services and to support women in all their efforts to regain their autonomy.
Women's centres are living environments where women can go during the day.
Workers receive women who want to participate in activities, collective actions, large marches, such as the World March of Women, which takes place every five years, or use the services offered by the women's centres. Women are received as they are, without judgment and without being labelled. Often, these are women who are experiencing different types of violence. They find themselves in a group, which helps them become aware that they are victims of domestic violence or any other type of violence.
I want to make it clear that women's centres are not shelters. In fact, they are parallel resources that welcome women and accompany them in their efforts. We sometimes refer them to shelters, but it often happens that women who are victims of violence do not go through shelters. One might ask why it is women who have to leave their homes, rather than their abusive partners.
Women's centre workers will work with women to help them rebuild their self-esteem and self-confidence, without blaming them for the violence they experience, of course. Through the strength of the group and steps to regain their autonomy, they will often emerge stronger and will finally be able to leave their home or get their abusive partner to leave.
Women's centres work on three levels: services, educational activities and collective action. Services often serve as a gateway. We can help women to prepare their curriculum vitae, for example, or to open a bank account. Indeed, there are still women who do not have a bank account and only have access to a joint account; often these women are victims of economic violence.
The women's centres believe that as long as there is no equality between humans, between women and between men and women, women will be victims of violence. Obviously, there is a need for universal services.
Earlier, we talked about childcare. That's all well and good, but spaces must be available. Currently, in Quebec, there is a major problem with access to these day care centres. We always say that day care centres will give women the opportunity to go to work, but it could also give everyone the opportunity to go to work. Women's centres are working to change the mindset and to make sure that there is recognized and deep equality.
Again, thank you for the invitation.
I am ready to answer your questions.