“Voices and Visions of the Future: The Stories of Self-Represented Litigants who are Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence” was produced by Madhurie Dhanrajh in conjunction with NSRLP and WomenatthecentrE, as part of the course, “Community Research Partnerships in Ethics” at the University of Toronto. This paper details the experiences of self-represented litigants who are also survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). The paper and its associated recommendations are based on academic research, but they are importantly centred and led by the lived experiences of survivors who navigate the legal system as SRLs. Drawing from interviews with survivors who have undergone both ordeals as well as the academic resources and observations produced by organizations like NSRLP and WomenatthecentrE, this paper provides a holistic overview of what self-representation is really like for IPV survivors. With their experience founding the basis of this paper, it aims to help remedy the harms faced by IPV survivors who self-represent, raise awareness about the reality and trauma of self-representing as a survivor, and optimize the efficiency of the Ontario Court Justice system.
Thank you so much for this report, Madhurie and all. The themes you have drawn out and the care you take with these women’s stories are really effective and ring true. At the same time, your additional efforts to find practical moves toward reform are not dismissive of the severity and pervasiveness of the flaws in the system as it exists and exacerbates harm. This report deserves to be read by everyone involved in family law as well as civil disputes between intimate partners.