Solidarity Statements & Values

WomenatthecentrE’s Values

The development of this toolkit reflects the core values and principles that guide all of WomenatthecentrE’s work. It is grounded in feminist, survivor-led, survivor-centred, anti-racist, decolonial, harm reduction, and disability justice frameworks. WomenatthecentrE stands in solidarity with diverse communities, beyond those acknowledged below, particularly those most marginalized and affected by systemic oppression.

Land Acknowledgement

WomenatthecentrE operates on the unceded territory of the Huron-Wendat, Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, Métis, Inuit, and Mississaugas of the Credit. These lands were taken without consent, causing deep harm to Indigenous Peoples and bearing the ongoing scars of colonialism.

We recognize that colonialism intersects with other forms of violence, including racism and over-policing, which disproportionately impact Indigenous communities. Indigenous women, girls, and 2-Spirit individuals are over-represented as survivors of human trafficking and exploitation, reflecting systemic inequalities.

WomenatthecentrE is committed to breaking these cycles of violence through a trauma-informed, survivor-centred approach that addresses the root causes of trauma, including colonialism. We stand in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples in their fight for justice, sovereignty, and self-determination, and commit to listening, learning, and confronting these impacts.

 If you are unsure of whose land you are on, please visit native-land.ca.

Statement of Solidarity with Black Communities

WomenatthecentrE stands in solidarity with Black communities across Canada and recognizes the profound and enduring impacts of the transatlantic slave trade. The legacy of slavery has left deep scars and systemic inequalities that continue to affect Black Canadians today. We acknowledge the historical and ongoing injustices faced by Black individuals and communities, including the exploitation, discrimination, marginalization, and displacement that have been perpetuated through centuries of systemic racism. We actively ground our work in this knowledge and commit to not perpetuating the same violence against Black communities. We acknowledge the history of human trafficking that stole Black people from their homes and displaced them here in Canada. We work to dismantle these systems actively and elevate the voices of Black women, girls, gender-diverse and trans people.

Statement of Solidarity with Sex Workers and Sex Working Communities

We stand in solidarity with sex workers by recognizing and working alongside sex workers to protect their rights and autonomy. We are committed to not conflating consensual sex work with sex trafficking, advocating for the decriminalization of sex work and for protective policies to be informed by people most impacted and a unified effort to respect all individuals in the sex industry while doing anti-trafficking work.

Statement of Solidarity with 2SLGBTQIA+ Communities

WomenatthecentrE stands in solidarity with 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, recognizing the violence these communities have and continue to endure due to homophobia, transphobia, and anti-queer and other discrimination faced by these communities. We recognize that this manifests as systemic oppression that impacts these communities and further marginalizes them. We especially want to honour the transgender communities who are disproportionately impacted by violence and oppression, resulting in higher rates of unhoused individuals, discrimination, limited access to healthcare and employment, and violence including human trafficking. WomenatthecentrE is committed to fostering inclusion and amplifying diverse perspectives.  We challenge discrimination and actively work towards a world where everyone can live authentically, and differing identities are respected and celebrated.