Policy, Program and Practices Review Guide

The Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW) is excited to launch a Policy, Program and Practices Review Guide for organizations to help them strengthen their supports and services for victims/survivors of gender-based violence who identify as Muslim.

While GBV exists in all societies and communities, there are various systemic factors that give rise to unique needs for and barriers to supports and services for marginalized communities. CCMW hopes that this guide will foster a better understanding of the complexities of GBV faced by Muslim women, girls, and gender diverse people and provide organizations with the tools needed to critically address the needs of their clients who identify as Muslim.

A virtual launch event for the Review Guide took place on December 6, 2022. Watch the recording here

As an added resource, we have included a series of informative infographics below. These infographics, derived from the guide itself, aim to assist organizations in strengthening their initiatives. To download, right-click on each image and select 'Save Image As' or 'Download Image'.

About the author

Silmy Abdullah is a lawyer and an award-nominated writer based in Toronto, Canada. She practised immigration law for a number of years at the South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario, focusing on the intersection of immigration, poverty and gender-based violence. Most recently, Silmy started her consulting practice, working with organizations on various gender equality, anti-racism and access to justice initiatives. Her debut collection of short stories, "Home of the Floating Lily," was a finalist for the 2021 Danuta Gleed Literary Award and long-listed for the 2022 Toronto Book Awards.

The guide was made possible through financial support from the Federal Department of Women and Gender Equality (WAGE).