About ISAWRISK
Be informed, be safe.
ISAWRISK is a quick online self-assessment tool that helps users get a sense of their risk level related to intimate partner violence and abuse. Available in many different languages, it provides information about local support services that could assist someone with their next steps.
ISAWRISK
Our Purpose
Identifying risk based on information and having knowledge of services to make informed choices about safety is critical for women. ISAWRISK wants to empower users in their decision-making by offering information that can help increase someone’s understanding about what they may be experiencing. This can help people make informed choices about next steps based on their own self-assessment.
Like many abused women, immigrant women may underestimate their own risk of re-assault and especially of lethality or near lethality (Campbell, 2004; Heckert & Gondolf, 2000; Messing et al, 2013).
ISAWRISK is by no means a replacement for risk identification services that have been provided by victim services and community service providers for many years. Rather, it is an additional tool that may help users self-identify if and when they need to seek out supports and services.
Background
Research indicates that approximately 50% of homicide survivors underestimated the risk to their lives (J. Campbell – Harjit, do you want to include a year in this citation?).
Women may often underestimate the danger and risk they face in intimate relationships that include dynamics of violence and abuse. This minimizing of personal risk, as well as lack of knowledge about what services are available to help, can leave people stuck in dangerous situations that can, at worst, end in loss of life.
A very small number of immigrant women disclose violence to healthcare and justice professionals. Yet many women seek medical services for health injuries that include the physical, psychological and emotional trauma they endure.
Seeking help from police for safety is often a last resort for many immigrant women.
About Us
Harjit Kaur has worked in the anti-violence sector for over 20 years supporting women with lived experience at a variety of violence prevention organizations in British Columbia, Canada. In addition to her grassroots experience providing front-line services to survivors of violence, abuse and sexual assault, her distinguished background includes research, project management, training, provincial coordination, and policy development.
She is currently a PhD Candidate, has an MA in Social Science and is a Registered Clinical Counsellor. Her work experience in the anti-violence sector includes providing Stopping the Violence counselling, and program and project management at both community and provincial levels. She also worked at one time at BC Women’s Hospital as their Sexual Assault Service Coordinator. Currently, Harjit is the Director of Training for the BC Society of Transition Houses.
Fluent in English, Punjabi and Malay, Harjit’s awareness about the crucial need for immigrant women impacted by violence to be able to access resources and services in their own language led her to co-create the ISAWRISK self-assessment tool.
Manjeet Sing Usma leads ISAWRISK’s technology planning and web applications development. Manjeet is a postgraduate researcher with research interest in the design and development of innovative web/mobile applications incorporating?engaging user experiences. He is also an User Experience (UX) Consultant in his own software company and assists clients in developing applications with are tech focused and user centered.
Manjeet has developed other websites and mobile apps focussed on helping survivors of domestic violence to be better informed and get help online. He has presented at “Stop Domestic Violence” conferences in Australia, sharing his research in designing online help-seeking applications.
Manjeet bring over 24 years’ experience in Information and Communications Technology and fluency in six Asian languages to the ISAWRISK project. His credentials include a Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering (B.Eng) degree from Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) with specialization in HCI / Human Factors Engineering. He has a M.Sc. (IT) research degree from Deakin University and is?currently pursuing?his PhD.
Acknowledgement
The ISAWRISK project builds on the numerous hours of dedicated work that has been done by everyone making a difference to end violence against women in intimate relationships and create change and safety for women and children, families and individuals. We honour their work.
