Across BC this winter, thousands of women and gender diverse people are navigating the family law system alone…
Content warning: family violence
“When you don’t have money you have no power, and so if the abuser cuts you off the accounts or they do something to control money, you’re left in a situation where you’re extremely vulnerable…”
Survivor story from Rise’s 2021 report, Why Can’t Everyone Just Get Along?
In Canada, $3.7 Billion is owed in Child Support payments…
97% of the payors are men…
“He calls my lawyer’s office all the time. And I get billed for that time. So, every time he called I got billed for that and it eats away at my legal aid.”
Survivor story from Rise’s 2021 report, Why Can’t Everyone Just Get Along?
“I know that for my kids, they felt forced by the court to have contact they didn’t want, forced to have contact with someone who frightened and upset them, and they were relieved — not traumatized — when they were finally allowed to stop seeing their father. I wonder how many kids also experience … this?
The … trauma is a lot about being forced to have contact with someone who hurts you and hurts your mom.… Our legal system does not seem to understand the interrelatedness of abuse within a family. A man abusing his wife is abusing his children.”
Survivor story from Rise’s 2024 report, Protection Orders in BC and the Urgent Need for a Specialized Process and Coordinated Reform
Rise has consistently fought for the courts to take into account the impact of indirect violence on a children…
Our 2024 groundbreaking Court of Appeal of BC case, K.M.N v. S.Z.M has helped ensure judges take the impact of indirect family violence…
“So, if you have ongoing litigation in family court, then I think it needs to be brought ex parte [without notice]. If you feel like your life is in danger, you can’t wait a day. You can’t [serve the other party] and wait [seven] days for the [court hearing]…That gives that person [seven] days to harass and terrorize you and your children and you can’t sleep, you can’t eat, you’re afraid to go anywhere…”
Survivor story from Rise’s 2024 report, Protection Orders in BC and the Urgent Need for a Specialized Process and Coordinated Reform
Women are 6x more likely to be killed by an ex than a current partner…
“He used to say to me, “Take [our child] . . . take your [belongings], and get out! Oh, I forgot, you don’t have anyplace to go. If I kick you both out, you don’t have a shelter over your head. What will you eat?”
Survivor story from Rise’s 2025 report, Should I Have Just Stayed?” Improving Family Law Remedies for Survivors During BC’s Housing Crisis
The most dangerous time for a survivor is right after they leave…
If they return the violence often escalates…
At Rise Women’s Legal Centre, we work hard to ensure that survivors can access the support they need during some of the worse times in their lives.
We help survivors so they do not have to face the family law storm alone, and this winter, we need your help more than ever before.
So far in 2026, we have seen a 46% increase in demand for our services, and we need more support to meet this demand. A donation to Rise this winter means we can be there when it matters the most.
What your gift can do…
Make a donation today
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Email: development@womenslegalcentre.ca| Call: (604) 757 5002
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