On March 15, 2026 the Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW) – Atlantic Chapter organized a public event in St. John’s Farmers Market to mark the launch of the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Prevention Resource Toolkit for Muslim women and Muslim-identified gender-diverse people, developed by Shazia Shaheen (Rootwell Consulting), in partnership with the Anti-Racism Coalition of Newfoundland and Labrador (ARC-NL) and with support from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador – Office for Women and Gender Equality.
The event, held at the Farmer’s Market, created an accessible and welcoming space to engage the broader community in conversations around gender-based violence (GBV), share information about available supports, and introduce a culturally grounded resource developed through the project Building Safer Communities Together: Preventing Gender-Based Violence through Community-Led, Culturally Grounded Action. Community members, including families, local residents, and individuals connected to community and social services, stopped by to learn, ask questions, and connect.
The event included the official launch of the toolkit, followed by a community gathering and Aftaar, creating space for reflection, connection, and shared dialogue. It highlighted the importance of culturally responsive, community-led approaches and reinforced the value of meeting people where they are to build trust, awareness, and access to support.
