New portal launches to help people experiencing intimate partner violence in York Region
EmpowerWeb portal takes a trauma-informed approach to educate, help survivors
WARNING: This story may affect those who have experienced intimate partner violence or know someone affected by it.
York Region has a new online portal called EmpowerWeb, encouraging people to seek help much earlier when in an abusive relationship.
Many people can be stuck in abusive situations for decades before they are able to get the help needed, Helena Kameka, president of Abuse Hurts, told CBC Radio's Metro Morning.
"When I finally was able to come upon the help I needed, it was life-changing for me, and we want that same life-changing thing sooner and more effectively for women today," Kameka said.
Abuse Hurts, an organization that provides support to abuse victims, created the new portal, which is available at every public library across York Region. Kameka hopes this will help as the region grapples with an intimate partner violence epidemic.
Intimate partner violence was declared an epidemic in York Region in 2023 with statistics showing an upward trend in incidents involving family violence and intimate partner violence, according to York Region's website.
There were over 6,500 incidents of intimate partner violence in York Region in 2024, York Regional Police said in their annual statistics report.
New portal hopes to 'empower' abuse victims to get help
EmpowerWeb offers a range of services like children's aid, shelters, legal aid, and support services to ensure users have access to several services depending on need.
The platform can be translated into 40 different languages.
The goal for EmpowerWeb is to provide trauma-informed assistance, said Kameka, noting the information is co-created by people with lived experience to ensure it is "less likely to re-traumatize a survivor as they're going through the material."
Understanding different social services using interactive tools built into the portal can help overcome the "fear of unknown" and encourage users to know what service is best for them, Kameka said.
EmpowerWeb includes safety precautions like clearing browser history and techniques to divert from your online location to ensure the abuser is unaware.
Creating a new Gmail or Hotmail account that your partner cannot access is also encouraged when using the portal, Kameka said.
Lived experience inspired to start this initiative
Abuse Hurts helps thousands of women each year to escape abusive situations and personal experiences of the workers help understand the survivors troubles better, Kameka said.
"We understand, and it's an amazing feeling to be there for someone else when people weren't there for us," Kameka said.
Numbers on intimate partner violence have remained steady between 2023-24 with 77 per cent of the accused being men, York Regional Police annual statistics reports said.
Abuse Hurts was first launched in 1993 by Ellen Campbell, who is a survivor of abuse, and they continue to expand services to provide better aid for victims.
Kameka says if similar portals like EmpowerWeb with knowledge and resources for abuse survivors existed earlier, it would have enabled her to receive help sooner.
The portal can also be used as a preventative tool to educate people on signs of early abuse and everyone is encouraged to visit the platform even if you are not in an abusive situation, Kameka said.
Abuse Hurts is working with over 100 organizations to add additional modules on financial literacy, legal aid and other support services to improve EmpowerWeb, Kameka said.
If you're in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911. If you're affected by family or intimate partner violence, you can look for help through crisis lines and local support services.
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With files from Mercedes Gaztambide