Call for papers

Organized by Résovi. Résovi is a research component of the Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Family Violence and Violence Against Women (CRI-VIFF).

At least one in three women worldwide has been beaten, forced into sexual relations or ill-treated in some other way at some time in her life. In addition, violence against women is the leading cause of death in women ages 16 to 44 (Council of Europe and the World Bank). By recently decreeing that violence towards women is one of the "Ten stories the world should hear more about" (2005), the United Nations Organization reminded us that this violence is a serious social problem everywhere in the world and that it is essential to pursue our efforts to eliminate it.

Until recently, most studies were carried out in the West and focused on women from dominant population groups in these countries. Yet violence is found in all countries and is experienced differently, depending on each woman's specific living situation and reality.

Moreover, for several years now, countries have been developing social policies, legislation, support services and prevention programs aimed at victims and aggressors. Thanks to everything that has been learned from research and practice, it is now possible to be more accurately aware of the strengths and limitations of many of these systems and initiatives.

Eager to enter into a fundamental discussion of these issues in order to take stock of this new knowledge and build bridges between researchers, practitioners and nations, Résovi at CRI-VIFF is pleased to announce our International Conference "Violence Against Women : Diversifying Social Responses", which will be held in Montreal, October 22-23-24, 2006. This interdisciplinary, international conference will provide a forum for discussion, knowledge-sharing and criticism, making it possible to develop a more refined analysis of violence against women and to explore diverse social responses that have been developed to combat it.

The organizing committee for this conference is inviting researchers, practitioners, policy-makers, etc., working in this domain, to submit a proposal for oral or poster presentation falling within the themes below:

1) Violence against women in different social contexts, for example when women:

• are immigrants, refugees, foreign domestic workers, aboriginal, or involved in trafficking or prostitution;
• find themselves in high-risk environments, dragged down by drug addiction, homelessness, sex trade, war, etc.;
• have personal characteristics, related to their religion, sexual orientation, etc., that are subjected to social prejudices;
• have limited autonomy (physical or mental disabilities, mental health problems, etc.).

2) Social responses to violence against women, such as:

• shelters for women who are victims of spousal abuse;
• treatment services for people with violent behavior (in the context of intimate relationships, sexual assault, etc.);
• support centres for women who are victims of sexual assault;
• prevention measures with regard to violence against women and girls;
• various forms of justice with regard to violence against women and application thereof;
• initiatives with regard to violence against women in institutions (hospitals, prisons, etc.);
• government and professional social policy initiatives concerning violence against women;
• social actions aimed at combating violence against women that have been initiated and supported by the women's movement.

3) Major issues concerning social responses that have been developed to address violence against women such as:

• issues related to child custody in the context of spousal abuse;
• issues related to intervention and organization of services in accordance with a specific aspect of violence rather than in terms of all forms of violence;
• issues related to assessing risks of recidivism and homicide;
• issues related to the decriminalization or legalization of prostitution.

The communications, in French or English, can be done in the form of:

• a 25 minutes presentation including 5 minutes for discussion;
• a poster.

Propositions must include a summary containing less than 150 words, the title of the presentation, the professional title of the author(s) and the name of affiliated organization(s).

Please make sure to send this information before November 7th 2005, 9 AM, via Internet or by post.

A notice will be sent to those who submitted an oral or poster proposition. Depending on the number of propositions received, the Organizing Committee reserves the right to suggest that an oral proposition be changed to a poster presentation.

Dominique Damant, president and scientific director of the conference
Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Family Violence
and Violence Against Women (CRI-VIFF)
Laval University
Charles-De Koninck building
Room 0439
Quebec, Canada
G1K 7P4

Telephone : (418) 656-3286
Fax : (418) 656-3309
conference@criviff.ulaval.ca