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REMINDER: 2023-24 AGM

Dear Community Members,

This is a reminder that SAWIS will host its Annual General Meeting on Sunday, September 29, 2024 from 1 PM to 4 PM @ Oakridge Community Center (63 Pharmacy Ave).

Annual General Meetings allow our members to participate in governance and decision-making for the organization. Every year, our members select and decide our team of officers and board members through a member voting process. We believe in accountability and transparent leadership and request our members to participate in the process during our AGM.

To be an eligible voter, you must have been involved with SAWIS for more than 6 months. To check you eligibility as a voter and if you are interested in voting, please contact us and speak to our Search and Elections Committee.

A detailed agenda for the 2023-24 AGM is available!

Exciting Opportunity: Join Our Board of Directors!

Attn All:

The South Asian Women’s Rights Organization (SAWRO) / South Asian Women’s Information Services (SAWIS) is thrilled to announce that we are now accepting applications for our Board of Directors for the 2024-2025 term!

We are seeking passionate and dedicated individuals who are committed to advancing the rights and well-being of South Asian women and communities. As a member of our Board, you will play a crucial role in shaping the strategic direction of our organization and supporting our mission to create meaningful impact.

How to Apply: To express your interest or to learn more about the role and responsibilities, please email us at sawro.office@gmail.com by Friday, September 6, 2024 @ 12:00 PM. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals and look forward to hearing from you!

Regards,

SAWRO Search and Elections Committee

SAWIS Annual General Meeting 2024

Dear Members:

SAWIS will be hosting their Annual General Meeting on Sunday, September 29, 2024 from 1 PM to 4 PM, at the Oakridge Community Center, 63 Pharmacy Ave. Every year, our members select and decide our team of officers and board members through a member voting process. We believe in accountability and transparent leadership and request our members to participate in the process during our AGM.

To be an eligible voter, you must have been involved with SAWIS for more than 6 months. To check you eligibility as a voter and if you are interested in voting, please contact us and speak to our Search and Elections Committee.

Thanks, and we hope to see you there!

SAWIS Search and Elections Committee

416-686-0701

sawro.office@gmail.com

Statement on the situation in Bangladesh

“In with the new!” – Community report on discussions about the political conditions and mass violence against the people of Bangladesh

August 6, 2024

South Asian Women’s and Immigrant Services is a community-based, women-led organization providing services and delivering programs in the Oakridge, Taylor Massey, and surrounding East-Danforth neighbourhoods of Toronto since 2008. These neighborhoods are known to have a high concentration of immigrants and newcomers from Bangladesh, many of whom are low-income and face unique challenges to their full civic, economic, and social participation in Canada.

As an organization with a majority of members, staff, volunteers, and service users from the Bangladeshi diaspora, we are in conversation with community members about the situation unfolding in Bangladesh. We express our concern for the safety and well-being of family members impacted by the developing situation in Bangladesh. We also express our condolences to the families who lost their loved ones as a result of brutal state attacks.   

SAWIS fosters a safe and inclusive environment that encourages immigrant women and girls to discuss and address issues that affect them, their families, and our community at large. Our members have been observing the events unfolding since July 15, 2024, when students began their resistance against the unfair quota system, the state’s violent response to democratic dissent, and the downfall of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s government (Awami League). 

Many community members echo the students of Bangladesh’s concerns with the proposed quota system, which reserved a significant portion of public-sector and government jobs for ‘descendants of Mukti Joddhas’ (Bahree, 2024). The proposed quotas would have added to the barriers in accessing decent, stable jobs while worsening the existing nepotistic hiring practices. It would also disregard the credentials and merits of domestic job seekers and reduce the share of equitable job hires for groups known to face barriers in their labor market participation (women, people with disabilities, and religious/ethnic minorities). In the context of the worsening affordability crisis that spans across the world and record-high unemployment rates among graduates and youth, our community members support the students’ demands for real, liveable jobs, measures addressing the affordability crisis, and an end to corrupt hiring practices. 

In response to the student’s and general public’s right to protest, the former government’s taunts and violent responses have been appalling and garnered international criticism, with concerns from the United Nations (UNICEF, 2024). Since July 15, thousands of students and protestors were arbitrarily detained and injured through the violent repression. Additionally, there have been more than 300 protestors and civilians killed during police and military attacks under the direct orders of the government (Ethirajan, 2024). Among the losses, at least 32 children were killed, many while inside their own homes (UNICEF, 2024). The resistance has since grown to demand accountability for the use of indiscriminate, inhumane, and illegal violence by local police and military that has resulted in the tragic loss of life.

With growing country-wide resistance through protests and other civic actions expressing the public’s dissatisfaction with the ruling government, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her government were forced to step down. This is a momentous victory for the people of Bangladesh!

While Bangladeshis celebrate the end of tyranny and oppression, we mourn the lives sacrificed and martyred. We also express our concern about the opportunistic acts of violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh, and applaud the efforts of students and workers organizing local initiatives to protect their Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, and other affected neighbors.

The people of Bangladesh have an immense task ahead restoring stability and building a new government. In order to truly materialize and sustain the newfound ‘independence’, the new way forward must reject the old practices of corruption, crony capitalist and neoliberal economic and social policies, and oppression of racial, ethnic, and gender-diverse populations. This task can only be successfully carried out ‘by the people, for the people’  — it must be led by the youth, workers, and their families in the nation’s collective interest.

The Bangladeshi community living in Toronto and abroad looks forward to rebuilding the country, which is founded on new ideas, politics, and practices. Conversations with community members indicate that our task going forward will be to support the demands of Bangladesh’s students and workers (outlined below).

Community members also discuss our collective responsibilities to positively contribute to the efforts of advancing the interests of affected communities in Canada and abroad who are facing similar and/or more severe forms of economic, social, and political oppression and marginalization. In their discussion, they asserted that the task going forward is to continue advocating for the economic, social, and political security of all. This includes efforts to: address the affordability and living crisis in our communities; reforms in the labour market and employment rights in support of vulnerable and precarious workers; safeguard and modernize public and social programs and supports (including but not limited to: health, childcare, education, legal, etc.); addressing gender, racial and other intersectional disparities in all aspects of domestic and foreign policies and programming; and strengthening the public’s demand for Canada to resist and end international humanitarian crises, such as the genocide in Palestine. 

The recommendations proposed by community members are also outlined below. 

SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS

As Bangladesh emerges from the political crisis, our community stands with the students and the public who demand:

  1. Accountability and justice for the deaths and injuries of students, children, and civilians since July 2024
  2. Accountability and justice for the disappearance and extrajudicial killings carried out by Sheikh Hasina’s government and the Awami League over the past 15 years, such as the BDR massacres,  journalists (Sagar-Runi), students, lawyers and others opposing the former government
  3. Release of all prisoners who were arbitrarily detained during the protests and prisoners detained for opposing the former government over the past 15 years. 
  4. The formation of the interim and, subsequently, new government by members approved by students and the public. Members of the new government must not include existing military officials and politicians/individuals with ties to the opposition and former ruling parties (the Awami League and Bangladesh National Party).
  5. The prioritization of human rights, judicial processes, and public accountability by the interim and subsequent new government with strict measures against corruption, extortion, and state terrorism
  6. The prioritization of the interim and subsequently new government of issues pertaining to the economic, social , and political security of Bangladeshis – which includes addressing affordability, rising unemployment, and safeguarding political and social rights

As members of the diaspora residing in Canada, our community demands the following from the Canadian government and our elected representatives:

  1. Adopt a consistent understanding of international human rights that recognizes the crimes committed by Sheikh Hasina and members of her government with other similar and more severe crimes being committed around the world, especially Isreal’s ongoing and worsening genocide against Palestine. 
  2. Engage in meaningful conversations with communities who are fighting for a dignified life in the face of profound economic, social, civic, and political marginalization and exclusions in Canada. This includes Indigenous communities and racialized, immigrants and refugees affected by state violence and genocides (ie: diasporas from Bangladesh, Palestine, Democratic Republic of Congo, Yemen and others).
  3. Support the people of Bangladesh in demanding accountability for the crimes of violence and extrajudicial killings carried out by Sheikh Hasina and her government in international courts. 
  4. Denial of entry and/or landing and political protections for Sheikh Hasina and members of her government who were directly and indirectly involved in the brutalities carried out against the public.
  5. Designate Sheikh Hasina’s government, the former Awami League, and the Chhatra League as terrorist organizations. Accordingly, investigate those claiming connections and ties to the Awami League while seeking refuge in Canada on the grounds of political persecution.

Citations

  1. Bahree, M. (n.d.). Who are the protesters demanding an end to job quotas in Bangladesh? Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2024/7/18/who-are-the-protesters-demanding-an-end-to-job-quotas-in-bangladesh
  2. Quota Reform Movement in Bangladesh: A Deep Dive into Its Origin and Impact. (2024, August 2). Vifindia.org. https://www.vifindia.org/article/2024/august/2/Quota-Reform-Movement-in-Bangladesh
  3. Anbarasan Ethirajan. (2024, August 5). Sheikh Hasina: How Bangladesh’s protesters ended a 15-year reign. Bbc.com; BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9033zpv0nvo
  4. ‌Jazeera, A. (2024, August 5). Bangladesh protesters make the defiant call for a march on Dhaka. Al Jazeera; Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/8/5/bangladesh-protesters-make-defiant-call-for-march-on-dhaka
  5. Wijesekera, S. (2024, August 2). At least 32 children killed in Bangladesh violence. UNICEF. https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/least-32-children-killed-bangladesh-violence#:~:text=%E2%80%9CUNICEF%20has%20now%20confirmed%20that,This%20is%20a%20terrible%20loss. 
  6. OHCHR. (2024, July 19). UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk calls for accountability and dialogue in Bangladesh. United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner. Retrieved August 6, 2024, from https://www.ohchr.org/en/statements/2024/07/un-human-rights-chief-volker-turk-calls-accountability-and-dialogue-bangladesh
  7. UNICEF. (2024, January 24). Bangladesh: Citing ‘dangerous decline’ of human rights, experts urge key reforms. UN News. Retrieved August 6, 2024, from https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/01/1145842

CHILDCARE ADVOCACY EVENT

Dear Community Members,

We are hosting a community-wide event to discuss the childcare challenges faced by racialized immigrant mothers and precariously employed childcare workers. We invite community members, community representatives, activists, and other stakeholders to join us to listen and participate in discussions to advance the rights of mothers and caregivers in our community. Details of the event are below:

SATURDAY, JULY 13, 2024

1:30-4:00 PM

OAKRIDGE COMMUNITY CENTER63 PHARMACY AVE, SCARBOROUGH, ON M1L 4S9

WE ARE HIRING SUMMER STUDENTS!

Attn All Community Youth:

Every year, the South Asian Women’s and Immigrants’ Services (SAWIS) hires students through the Canada Summer Jobs initiative funded by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).

This year we are looking to hire four students for the following positions: Youth Development Coordinator, Finance Clerk, Information Technology (IT) Consultant, and Administrative Assistant Office. Eligible CSJ applicants include those who are between ages 15 to 30 years at the beginning of the employment period, have valid SIN and those who are either Canadian citizens, permanent residents or whose refugee protection has been confirmed. International students, youth awaiting refugee status and those with temporary visitor, youth or work visa are ineligible.

To learn more about these positions please visit the Government of Canada Job Bank Website or see the document attached below.

If you are interested, please follow the instructions on How to Apply on the first page. Application deadline is Friday, June 07, 2024 @ 12:00 PM.

CSJ 2024 Job PostingDownload

Regards,

SAWIS

416-686-0701
sawro.office@gmail.com

SAWIS to attend the 26th Metropolis Canada Conference in Montreal



SAWIS will be attending the 26th Metropolis conference, hosted in Montreal, QB. This conference is a space for interaction, dialogue, and learning among settlement service providers, practitioners, policy makers, researchers and civil society on topics related to migration, integration and inclusion.

SAWIS will be co-presenting with UofT and McMaster to discuss reflections and implications from community-engaged research with Bangladeshi migrants who receive services from South Asian Women’s and Immigrants’ Services (SAWIS). The roundtable aims to discuss structural inequities resulting from migration, labor market discrimination, and gender-based violence, including insights on how SAWIS’s holistic approach to mutual aid, direct service, and advocacy seeks to foster social change for racialized immigrant women in Toronto’s East Danforth neighborhoods.



SAWIS Report back on community discussions about genocide in Palestine

Since October 7, 2023, more than 11,100 lives (and counting) have been lost in Palestine. We send our deepest condolences to all those living who lost their loved ones, and express our concern for the safety and security for everyone living in Palestine and surrounding areas.

SAWIS has been in conversation with community members living in the East-Danforth areas of Toronto where discussions about the genocide are taking place among Bangladeshi and South Asian immigrant women and girls. We foster and encourage a safe and inclusive environment for immigrant women and girls to participate in civic and political discussions. This is made possible due to our close connection and trust built with the community through day-to-day service, civic engagement, and public education activities. 

Conversations began with the fact that Israel was investigated and declared as an apartheid state (See Amnesty, 2022 and United Nations, 2022). It is also recognized that the current Israeli government is carrying out a genocidal campaign against Palestinians in Gaza. This is made evident by the mass expulsion and displacement, destruction of civilian health and other infrastructure and institutions, and blatant disregard of human life resulting in the record-number of deaths and severe injuries. These actions, per the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court Section 8, constitute war crimes. 

Our conversations not only examined the events unfolding, but also the responses of the Canadian government, political parties, media and other institutions representing civil society. 

As a society that expresses its commitment to advance gender equity, anti-racist initiatives, human rights, and reconciliation, our community is disheartened and concerned with Canada’s response. The inability to firmly stand against genocide and call for a ceasefire continues to creating a deadly situation for Palestinians and those living in the surrounding areas, especially for children, women, elderly, and people with disabilities who are much more vulnerable. Community women reflected on their lived experiences and highlighted the direct correlation between compliance with war, conflict and oppression abroad with discrimination experienced in Canada. They expressed concerns about the safety and wellbeing of ethnic and religious communities in Canada who are at risk of Islamophobic, anti-Arab, anti-Black, and anti-Semitic hate crimes and systemic discrimination. We caution that this is a very real outcome, especially as we see a general rise in anti-immigrant sentiments, much of which has been fostered in our society over the last few years. 

Community women also expressed their frustration about the lack of sincere engagement with the general public, especially with those who are affected by these discourses and decisions. They are not only frustrated with the disinformation and lack of critical discussions about the context of the genocide, but also with the discussions by decision-makers that does not reflect the values and needs of the general public. Our society has seen an increase in pro-war discussions and decision-making taking place in the midst of an affordability crisis. Community women strongly challenged the use of public funds, which many communities like ours are being denied access to through cuts to social programs and safety nets, for causes that the general public do not agree and/or consent to. 

While community women are ‘let down’ by the institutions that are supposed to represent them, they are not demoralized. We commend and support efforts made by communities across Toronto and Canada in organizing and participating in local, national, and international actions against genocide. We are proud to witness the unwavering strength and solidarity among the general population on this issue, including collectives representing a wide range of ethnic/religious groups (Arab, Jewish, Muslims, Indigenous, Black, etc.), occupations (students, trades union, teachers, healthcare, non-unionized and precarious workers, etc.), and gender oppressed and diverse communities. The values and needs of the general population are being represented through their efforts.  

Governments, policy makers, and public institutions have the duty to reflect the demands and values of the people. Community women urge elected officials and decision makers to take up the calls for  an immediate ceasefire, immediate relief, and safety and aid for Palestinians, and safety for all who are currently in Gaza regardless of their ethnicity and religion. 

Community women also urge the government to:

  1. Adopt a proactive anti-war stance as an integral aspect to foreign relations and policy discussions and decision making
  2. Incorporate anti-war perspectives as an essential part of Canada’s gender-equity, anti-racist, and humanitarian initiatives, both domestically and internationally
  3. Incorporate into regular democratic practices a process for genuine and sincere conversations with the general public and affected communities to ensure informed consent of Canada’s involvement in international struggles and conflict
  4. Prioritize the use of public funds to address the affordability crisis and meet the general population’s needs for social programs and safety nets

For those interested in supporting calls for ceasefire, please sign the petition below.

Petition: https://www.ourcommons.ca/ErrorPage/Default.aspx?Url=https%3a%2f%2fwww.ourcommons.ca%2fpetitions%2fen%2fPetition%2fSign%2fe-4649&StatusCode=404

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1m-2rjnwv9ofchsbobAFOqjU57lbMVvdI/view?usp=sharing

SAWIS Annual General Meeting 2023

***AGM 2023 LOCATION AND TIME UPDATED***

Dear Members:

SAWIS will be hosting their Annual General Meeting on Sunday, September 24, 2023 from 2 PM to 4 PM, at the Oakridge Community Center, 63 Pharmacy Ave. Every year, our members select and decide our team of officers and board members through a member voting process. We believe in accountability and transparent leadership and request our members to participate in the process during our AGM.

To be an eligible voter, you must have been involved with SAWIS for more than 6 months. To check you eligibility as a voter and if you are interested in voting, please contact us and speak to our Search and Elections Committee.

Click the flyer and link below for more information and agenda.

AGENDA for AGM 

Thanks, and we hope to see you there!

SAWIS Search and Elections Committee

416-686-0701

sawro.office@gmail.com

Community Event – Activating and mobilizing community women to address Gender-Based Violence (GBV)

Attn All Community Members:

SAWIS has been organizing focus groups, workshops, and service activities to address GBV in the community since 2008. Our experiences especially during the COVID-19 pandemic reveal the need to highlight community women’s voices to develop equitable and intersectional policies, programs, and services to meet our needs.

SAWIS is hosting an event on Friday, September 15, 2023 from 7PM to 9PM at 9 Dawes Rd to share community experiences and perspectives with activists, advocacy and other organizations.

SAWIS Admin