The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Submitted by Women's Resource Centre November is Domestic Violence Prevention Month. We feel it is important to acknowledge this month because it raises public awareness of this issue. Greater public awareness of this complex problem will reinforce the fact that family violence is unacceptable in a civilized society. Violence against women is a prevalent and well-documented social problem in Canada. A 2005 Statistics Canada profile on family violence track family violence, including incidence, prevalence and severity of woman abuse in Canada. Canadian women who reported on violence in a current or previous spousal relationship in the past five years: 81 per cent reported being pushed, shoved or grabbed; 61 per cent were threatened to be hit; 44 per cent reported having something thrown at them; 38 per cent were beaten or choked; 36 per cent were slapped; 27 per cent were kicked, hit, or bit; 16 per cent were sexually assaulted; 37 per cent also experienced some form of emotional abuse; and 61 per cent also were stalked by an intimate partner; Between 1994 and 2003, a history of family violence was present in six out of 10 spousal homicides. Women under the age of 25 are more likely to be victimized by their intimate partner. Between 1994 and 2003, females aged 15-24 had the highest rate of spousal homicide, nearly three times the overall rate of spousal homicide for women during the same period and nearly three times the rate of males aged 15-24. One in six pregnant women are abused during pregnancy. Women abused during pregnancy were four times as likely to experience very serious violence, including being beaten up, choked, threatened with a gun/knife or sexually assaulted. As well, 18 per cent of the women abused during pregnancy suffered miscarriage or other internal injuries as a result of the abuse. The Women's Resource Centre will have displays available throughout the area with ribbons, buttons and information dealing with domestic violence. We encourage all citizens of the area to join the Purple Ribbon Campaign by showing their support and awareness by wearing a purple ribbon. The display of purple ribbons within our communities sends a strong message that there is no place for domestic violence in our homes, neighbourhoods, workplaces or schools. If anyone has any questions they are welcome to call us at 204-681-3105 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday to Friday.
