The Canadian Women’s Foundation acknowledges that the signal won’t be usable for all people. Children who grow up in this environment and witness and/or experience abuse are at higher risk for:Įxperiencing health problems, like depression and anxiety, as they get older.ĭomestic violence is a huge problem, and obviously a hand signal is not a foolproof way to stop it. Department of Health and Human Services reports that more than 15 million children live in a home in which domestic violence has happened at least once. Sadly, this type of violence also impacts millions of children. In the U.S., nearly one in three women and one in four men have experienced intimate partner violence, according to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It’s also being promoted by the Women’s Funding Network, an alliance of more than 100 women’s foundations and funds spanning 14 countries. Though the signal was launched in Canada, the campaign has been shared globally on social media. Their hope is that support services and organizations will encourage the use of this gesture to let women, girls and trans and non-binary people know that they don’t need to suffer in silence.” “The Canadian Women’s Foundation is calling on other organizations to help spread awareness of Signal for Help. “There’s ample evidence that disaster situations often lead to a surge in violence that women, girls and trans and non-binary people are at highest risk of experiencing,” a press release states. The Canadian Women’s Foundation recommends meeting in person or calling and asking “yes” or “no” questions (in case someone else is listening) or open-ended questions to help determine what the victim needs. When the signal is given, those on the receiving end should know to check on the victim discreetly and seek emergency help if needed. To make the signal, you hold up your open palm, tuck your thumb against it, and then close your fingers over your thumb.

The foundation’s Signal for Help is a simple hand gesture that can be done over Zoom calls, TikTok, FaceTime or any other type of video service. It’s called the Signal for Help, and it’s catching on in more places than just Canada. In an effort to combat the rise of domestic violence in their own country, the Canadian Women’s Foundation has launched a new initiative to give victims in need a way to silently and secretly ask for help. Stay-at-home orders can make the act of escaping a violent partner or family member especially difficult, and many countries around the world are reporting a troubling increase in reports of domestic violence incidents. Domestic violence is a serious global issue, and the problem may be getting worse for many families during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hand signal for help