The Canadian Women’s Foundation / Women’s Funding Network: Signal for Help, 2

The Canadian Women’s Foundation and Women’s Funding Network have proudly launched 'Signal for Help' in Canada and the US, to help combat the increase of gender-based violence as a result of home isolation. Signal for Help is an online initiative and tool designed to provide women who are confined to their homes with their abusers a method to discreetly communicate over any video call that they need help. The signal is a simple single-handed gesture that symbolically entraps the thumb in the palm and provides those at risk with a discreet way to let family, friends, and colleagues know that they need help. It was intentionally designed as a continuous hand movement that could be made easily visible on a video call, due to the dramatic increase in usage of personal and professional video calls during this time. Instructional social posts were designed with a two-step visualisation of how to perform the signal. The assets are available in English, French, and Spanish. They can be easily downloaded by organisations and individuals to share. On 14th April, a single 'Signal for Help' post from The Canadian Women’s Foundation instantly went viral across their Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter channels. Notable figures from all walks of society and culture shared the 'Signal for Help' including acclaimed author Margaret Atwood, actress Amybeth McNulty, former Canadian hockey star Cassie Campbell and Federal Minister Maryam Monsef. This sparked more awareness and sharing in the days following launch.