Gender-based violence is all around us — and the COVID-19 pandemic made many women and gender-diverse people even more vulnerable to violence and abuse at home.

To help, the Canadian Women’s Foundation created the Signal for Help — a simple one-handed gesture that can be used to reach out for support without leaving a digital trace. Since launching in April 2020, it’s become a viral, award-winning initiative that’s spread globally to at least 50 countries, translated into more than 20 languages, through news stories, social media, and community partners.

Ending gender-based violence will take all of us. But many people don’t know the signs of abuse and how to offer support in a non-judgmental way. When it comes to abuse, we still have a culture of stigma — and stigma silences and leads to preventable tragedies.

Join EAPO and the Canadian Women’s Foundation for a special session on how you can help as a Signal for Help Responder. You’ll learn more about the Signal for Help, different forms of abuse and, most importantly, how to respond and support someone facing abuse in a safe, supportive way. At the end, you’ll be invited to sign up as a Signal for Help Responder to continue your learning and join a community of more than 70,000 people strong — and growing.

Together, we can transform our culture of stigma and silence surrounding abuse to a culture of support and action.

NOTE: While some Canadian statistics are referenced, this session is applicable to everyone, regardless of location.