FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov 25, 2025
KJIPUKTUK (HALIFAX, NS) – In advance of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, social workers, survivors, and government representatives gathered in downtown Halifax on November 24 for a pivotal conference that underscored social work’s critical responsibility in dismantling the normalization of gender-based and intimate partner violence, and championed the empowerment of survivors.
Throughout the conference, social workers were called to the forefront as agents of systemic change. Speakers emphasized that violence and trauma are deeply tied to political decisions and structural inequality. Social work professionals were urged to advocate for survivor-centered practices and to challenge systems and policies that perpetuate harm. The message was clear: true recovery and justice for survivors depend on the willingness of social workers to disrupt cycles of powerlessness and disconnection.
Kristina Fifield, Registered Social Worker and Clinical Specialist in trauma therapy, shared a quote from Dr. Judith Herman — “No intervention that takes power away from the survivor can possibly foster her recovery, no matter how much it appears to be in her immediate best interest” — and explained that, “As social workers, our duty is to create safe, empowering relationships with survivors and avoid recreating harmful dynamics.”
Tyler Colbourne, Professional Development Consultant with the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers (NSCSW), highlighted the importance of incorporating a “non-harming” approach into daily practice, stating, “Practicing compassion, kindness, and patience toward ourselves and others is fundamental for genuine healing.”
The conference challenged attendees to examine why many survivors do not feel supported by services labeled “trauma-informed” or “survivor-centered.” Conference speakers and participants alike called for a renewed commitment to practices and policies that empower and truly center the voices and experiences of survivors. Relationship-building, critical reflection, and the use of gender-inclusive language were identified as essential professional responsibilities.
As the event concluded, participants affirmed that social workers are uniquely positioned to confront systems of harm, promote non-violence, and create safer, more just communities. The conference served as a powerful reminder: the profession of social work must lead ongoing efforts to ensure that violence is neither normalized nor tolerated in any form.
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About us:
The Nova Scotia College of Social Workers serves and protects Nova Scotians by effectively regulating the profession of social work. We work in solidarity with Nova Scotians to advocate for policies that improve social conditions, challenge injustice, and value diversity.
For more information or to arrange interviews with NSCSW spokespersons, contact: Rebecca Faria, communication coordinator for NSCSW (902-429-7799 ext. 227, [email protected]).