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Swedish Government Commission on Violence Against Women

Jill Hightower, Executive Director of the BC Institute on Family Violence, acted as liaison when the Swedish Government Commission on Violence Against Women visited Vancouver on June 20-21, 1994 as part of their fact-finding mission. The Commission had already met with government and agency representatives working in the area of family violence in Toronto and Ottawa and was travelling next to Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon after its Vancouver visit.

While in Vancouver, Ms. Hightower arranged for the Commission to meet with representatives from Munroe Transition House, Battered Women's Support Services, B.C./Yukon Society of Transition Houses, Vancouver Police, B.C. Association of Counsellors of Abusive Men, and Ministry of Attorney General of B.C.

The Commission was appointed by the Swedish government to review issues relating to violence against women, from women's perspective, and on the basis of this review to recommend measures to counteract such violence. Recommendations may concern both regulations and guidelines to various public authorities in handling these matters, as well as support for women subjected to violence and action in relation to the abusive man.

Directing the fact-finding mission was Mrs. Britta Bjelle, the chairperson of the Commission, who is a member of the Swedish Parliament and chairperson also of the Standing Committee on Judicial Affairs. As in other cities they visited, Committee members learned about existing programs, government services and future initiatives in British Columbia, as a means of information exchange and possible adaptation for programs in Sweden.