Released on November 30, 1999
Building safer communities by reducing violence against women - that's thefocus of Battered Women's Awareness Week, from November 30th to December 6th.
Women are at the highest risk of spousal violence. A recent Statistics Canada
homicide report shows women are far more likely to be killed by their spouse
than by a stranger. In Canada, 128 women were killed in 1997.
61 were killed by a current or former spouse;
12 were killed by a boyfriend or ex-boyfriend;
12 were killed by a stranger; and
the remaining victims were killed by someone else they knew.
The government and community groups are working together to fight this cycle of
violence.
"We are all responsible to take action on violence," Minister responsible for
the Status of Women Joanne Crofford said. "The provincial government has many
programs in place to deal with violence, programs like funding for transition
houses and sexual assault centres; education in schools and money for
Alternatives to Violence programs."
One community initiative is a website set up by the Provincial Association of
Transition Houses of Saskatchewan (PATHS). Www.hotpeachpages.org allows abused
women easy access to phone numbers of agencies that will help them.
The last day of Battered Women's Awareness Week falls on a very sombre
anniversary.
"It's been ten years since 14 young women were murdered at L'Ecole
Polytechnique in Montreal." PATHS Co-ordinator Virginia Fisher said.
"Communities across Canada take action every December 6th to commemorate and
remember women who have been victims of violence.
"This day has also come to symbolize hope - a time when people can work
together to take action towards safer communities."
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For more information, contact:
Neena Saxena Virginia Fisher
Women's Secretariat PATHS
Regina Saskatoon
Phone: (306) 787-7012 Phone: (306) 978-6654