New tools for a feminist city
PRESS RELEASE
Montreal, September 12, 2024
Today kicked off the ‘From Words to Action for a Feminist City’ day at Maison Parent Roback. The Table des groupes de femmes de Montréal (TGFM) and its members unveiled innovative new tools. These resources shed light on often overlooked perspectives on the experiences of women and gender-diverse people in Montreal.
Under the Radar: Montreal women speak out about profiling
The brand-new "Under the Radar" website shares poignant testimonials from women and gender-diverse people about their interactions with police officers, private security guards and STM constables. The site makes visible often hidden experiences of social, racial and political profiling in written, audio and video format, with sign language interpretation (LSQ and ASL). These testimonies were taken from the report on the experiences and discrimination of Montreal women in relation to the police and private security forces.
The event was marked by an inspiring round-table discussion on concrete actions to be taken, bringing together experts from different backgrounds: Lynda Khelil from the Ligue des droits et libertés, Maryane Daigle from RAPSIM, and Christchna Pierre from Femmes du Monde Côte-des-Neiges, moderated by Laura Carli from TGFM. The discussion highlighted concrete actions taken by the community to reduce police violence.
Embark with us!
The day was also an opportunity to present the action research on women living with disabilities in sustainable mobility options in Montreal. This publication highlights the daily challenges of displacement and insecurity, as well as the impact of these obstacles on their social participation as parents, workers, activists and students. These findings are accessible via an online report and summary sheets, and a traveling photo exhibition.
The exhibition offers an intimate look into the lives of eight people with lived experience who participated in the project. The photos capture their challenges, their daily resistances and their claims to navigating an environment that is often hostile and discriminatory. These perspectives aim to inspire the audience to rethink not only their everyday attitudes and behaviours, but also the planning of public spaces, services and events to make them more inclusive and safe for everyone.
Participants are invited to consult and use these new tools in their own environments to raise awareness and encourage change.
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The Table de groupes de femmes de Montréal is a regional umbrella organization that promotes and defends women's rights from an intersectional feminist perspective. One of the TGFM's major strengths is its membership of over 80 groups, made up mainly of local women's groups and women's committees from unions and community and social groups.
Feminist Perspectives on Profiling is a project that aims to understand the relationship between Montreal women and police and private security forces, to better respond to women's needs. The project compiled the results of 540 survey responses and 4 focus groups with a majority of women and a minority of people identifying as queer, trans, non-binary or other. The various phases of the project were supported by 5 member groups (Passages, L'Institut F, Femmes du monde à Côte-des-Neiges, Info-Femmes, les Maisons de l'ancre) and three allied groups (La ligue des droits et libertés, RAPSIM and Hoodstock).
For further information: Laura Carli, Project Manager - Feminist Perspectives on Profiling, laurac@tgfm.org, 514-380-3288 ext. 3
Consult the website Under the Radar: Montreal women talk about profiling
Come on board with us! The action-research project is a response to the fact that women with disabilities are often left on the sidelines when it comes to thinking about and finding solutions for sustainable mobility. 10 real-life experts, Montreal women with functional limitations, contributed through logbooks, exploratory walks and co-analysis meetings. Over 150 women also shared their experiences through surveys and focus groups. This project was made possible thanks to the mobilization of TGFM members: INÉI-PSH, Logifem, Société Logique, Maison des femmes sourdes de Montréal, Action femmes et handicap, DefPhys Sans limite and Y des femmes de Montréal.
The report is only available in French
For further information: Marie-Eve Desroches, responsible for concertation and associative life - Mobility, marie-eve.d@tgfm.org, 514-380-3288 ext. 2