Mission and Values
Since 1988, the CALACS de l’Est du Bas-Saint-Laurent, or the Eastern Lower St. Lawrence CALACS (Centre d'Aide et de Lutte contre les Agressions à Caractère Sexuel) is an independent community organization whose mission is to support and accompany women and teenagers aged 12 years and older who have experienced one or more acts of sexual assault, as well as their loved ones. We act according to values of social justice and ecological justice, solidarity, equality, accessibility, mindfulness, safety.
Our Approach
At the CALACS de l’Est du Bas-Saint-Laurent, it is by following an intersectional approach that we support women, raise public awareness and take action against violence towards women in an effort to dismantle and transform the structures that tolerate and perpetuate it. We promote inclusive practices, which means working in collaboration with women living with multiple forms of oppression (sexism, heterosexism, racism, classism, ableism, ageism, etc.). Taking these intersections into account allows us to act on the inequalities experienced by marginalized groups of women and to adapt our services, our workplaces and our advocacy groups so that they are accessible to all women.
News
The CALACS de l’Est du Bas-Saint-Laurent offers many militant, educational and artistic activies to meet, act and raise awareness against sexual assault and all forms of gender-based violence. Stay informed of our news to participate in our events and workshops.
Team and Board of Advisors
The CALACS de l’Est du Bas-Saint-Laurent structure is based on shared leadership. Our team is composed of two co-leaders in charge of managing human resources, administrative duties and case workers in charge of direct assistance, prevention-awareness and collective action. Within an intersectional framework, power is distributed throughout the organization via various committees that allow the voice of each woman to be heard. The organization is directed by a Board of Advisors whose mandate is to ensure the functioning and development of The Eastern LSL CALACS in accordance with its intersectional feminist intervention mission and values, in order to preserve and guarantee quality services.
Activity Report
The CALACS de l’Est du Bas-Saint-Laurent accompanies women who have experienced sexual assault, but also their loved ones. Since its inception, the caseworkers and activists have been raising public and government awareness about the causes and consequences of sexual assault. Together with the Québec Coalition of Sexual Assault Centers (RQCALACS), they have worked relentlessly “so that one day, no woman need fear for her safety and integrity”. You can read here how the Eastern LSL CALACS acts to achieve these goals.
