Mitigating violence against South Asian women in Metro Vancouver: a service provider perspective

Available services and policies in BC do not adequately address the needs of women experiencing abuse within the South Asian community. Twenty-two semi-structured interviews with government and community organizations were used to identify gaps in current policies and services. Findings are divided into 2 sections relating to barriers and challenges caused by community-based services and government policies. The findings address the need for programs that focus on both prevention and intervention, the importance of cultural safety training, and increased co-operation between service providers. Policy options are evaluated within the context of the South Asian community culture and the existing provincial framework. Although a long-term shift in the provincial approach to VAW is needed, the recommended short-term strategy is a policy suite including: (1) cultural safety training for all service providers, (2) establishment of new 2nd stage transition homes, and (3) community-based media campaign.