Dragonfly Centre: Facebook produces booklet to help domestic abuse survivors use the website

Mission

Non-Profit, 501(c)(3)

Mission: The Dragonfly Centre is committed to the elimination of domestic violence against women and their children by providing victim friendly services that promotes the empowerment of survivors; through advocacy, public awareness and education and community based initiatives.

Vision: The Dragonfly Centre envisions a world free of violence against women and their children and social justice for all. We are founded on the vision and belief that every person has the right to live in a safe environment free from violence and the fear of violence and strive to work collaboratively with the community to provide victim friendly services to support domestic violence victims, survivors to the stage of thriving.

Now on Facebook:

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Facebook produces booklet to help domestic abuse survivors use the website

Even as Twitter is struggling to make a statement against trolls threatening feminists with rape and violence, Facebook has come out with a document guiding survivors of domestic abuse on using the social network.

Facebook has partnered with the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) to come up with a Privacy and Safety on Facebook booklet called “A guide for survivors of abuse”. The nine-page booklet enlists ways and methods victims of domestic abuse can use to keep their privacy protected on Facebook.

The social networking website says that the guide is aimed at helping survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking learn their way around Facebook and remain safe. It will help make sure that while victims manage to remain connected with their family and friends, they can stay away from their account being misused by abusers, stalkers and perpetrators.

Facebook tells you how to ensure your privacy and safety online

Facebook believes that victims should be able to live a healthy social life despite the fear of abusers. “Telling a victim to go offline to be safe is not only unacceptable, it further isolates her from people who love her. Our role, as advocates, professionals, friends, and family, is to make sure that survivors know the options to maintain their safety. That’s the empowering strategy – helping survivors take back the control that abusers have tried to steal from their lives,” says Cindy Southworth of NNEDV.

The guide goes on to elaborate how to review privacy settings to ensure that perpetrators are locked out of the profile and only the right people have access to personal details on the profile. Another important aspect outlined by the booklet talks about tightening security settings by setting up a security question, enabling details of logins and approval requirement. The guide could come in handy for not just victims of domestic abuse but also regular users of Facebook who put up details and images from their lives onto the social networking website regularly.

You can read through the guide, a great initiative by Facebook, here.

Source: http://tech2.in.com/news/social-networking/facebook-produces-booklet-to-help-domestic-abuse-survivors-use-the-website/909628

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A Little Background…..

In 2007 I was introduced to the twin island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. It is a beautiful tropical country located in the southern most part of the Caribbean archipelago. However, the opportunity to travel to this part of the world would not present itself until March of 2009. It was an incredible experience to be able to visit a country where I had never been before and I literally knew no-one. I had the privilege to experience a new culture and meet many wonderful people who made my trip an amazing experience. Although the purpose of my visit was recreational, something happened that changed all of that. One evening while on a hike with my tour guide and one of the locals at The ASA Wright Nature Centre, one of the men asked me where I was from and what I did for a living. It was at that moment that I disclosed that I was a Domestic Violence Advocate. He paused, looked at me and replied,… “we need you here”. At that moment I did not fully understand what he meant or how I could help.

A few days after this I visited one of the local court houses to learn about how someone could obtain a protection order. What I discovered disturbed me greatly, to say the least. The process by which abused individuals could obtain legal protections left much to be desired. This sparked grave concern for victims coupled with a desire to learn more about the local system and services. After I finished my travels all I could think about was the need of the people in Trinidad and Tobago. It was shortly after my return to the United States that the Dragonfly Centre for Women’s Empowerment and Transformation began to take form. While completing my Bachelors degree at Evergreen College, I developed an Individual Learning Contract entitled “Domestic Violence in Trinidad and Tobago” and was awarded The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. This allowed me to return to Trinidad and Tobago for my final quarter at the end of December of 2009 for my nine week study. My focus was on services addressing domestic violence. What I came away with was the echoing cries for help by the people who freely shared their personal views and stories. Although I wasn’t quite sure what, I knew I had to do something. As a consequence, it was these cries that gave birth to and helped shape the Dragonfly Centre to be what it is, a multifaceted institution with a focus on public education, shaping public policy and providing direct victim friendly services to support families dealing with domestic violence.