Advocates Urge Ottawa to Prioritize Prevention Over Incarceration for Women's Safety
A prominent advocacy group in Ottawa is pushing for a significant shift in how the city addresses violence against women, emphasizing that community-based and trauma-informed programs should take precedence over incarceration. The Ottawa Coalition To End Violence Against Women (OCTEVAW) argues that investing in prevention, accountability, healing, and transformation within communities is crucial to ending gender-based violence.
Call for Alternative Responses to Gender-Based Violence
OCTEVAW, a coalition comprising more than 50 organizations and individuals, is urging the City of Ottawa and policymakers to explore anti-carceral and transformative justice approaches. According to the group, the traditional justice system often fails to provide meaningful accountability and healing for survivors of femicide, gender-based violence, and intimate partner violence (IPV).
Astara van der Jagt, acting executive director of OCTEVAW, stated that state punishment and incarceration rarely tackle the root causes of these issues. Instead, she advocates for a focus on building systems that prevent harm before it occurs and support survivors with necessary resources.
Recent Cases Highlight Urgency
The call for change comes in the wake of several homicides in recent years that Ottawa police have classified as femicides. One notable case involved Robert Rus, 61, who was sentenced to life in prison last fall after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in the death of his wife, Brenda Rus, in April 2025. Ottawa police define femicide as the killing of women and girls due to their gender, often driven by stereotyped gender roles, discrimination, or unequal power dynamics.
Van der Jagt emphasized that the prison system is ineffective at rehabilitation, prompting OCTEVAW to question what measures can stop such harm from recurring. "What needs to happen to stop this harm from ever happening again?" she asked, highlighting the need for proactive solutions.
Proposed Community-Based Solutions
OCTEVAW recommends that city staff collaborate early with advocacy organizations to establish community-based, trauma-informed, and survivor-centered practices. These programs could assist individuals dealing with gender-based violence and IPV, offering tailored support based on cultural, ethnic, and other identity intersections.
Key initiatives include investing more funds in transitional housing for survivors escaping abusive situations and providing resources like safety, housing, and healing supports. Van der Jagt noted that survivors' needs vary widely, and programs must be adaptable to different contexts to be effective.
Moving Forward with a Transformative Approach
The advocacy group stresses that a shift toward prevention and community support is essential for long-term change. By focusing on transformative justice, Ottawa can address the underlying issues of gender-based violence rather than relying on punitive measures that often fall short. This approach aims to create safer environments and foster healing within communities, ultimately working toward the eradication of violence against women in the city.
