November is Domestic Violence Prevention Month, and this weekend the Women’s Resource Service is urging the community to take back the night.
The annual Take Back The Night protest march is a way for women to raise awareness that they should be able to do just that – feel comfortable walking at night.
“Women should be able to walk down the street at night feeling safe, and being safe from violence,” said Colleen Arnold, executive director of Save Haven and the Women’s Resource Service.
One in five women in Canada experience abuse within their relationship. Arnold said domestic violence is a problem in Flin Flon and beyond.
“It’s everywhere,” she said.
In her 15 years at Safe Haven, Arnold has seen plenty of women come through the centre, which houses women and children fleeing family violence for up to 30 days, with the possibility of an extension.
“The numbers fluctuate. Some years there have been 35 women in a year, and others there have been 10,” she said.
Since April 1, 2017, eight women and 10 children have been housed at Safe Haven, but as the program is accessed voluntarily, that isn’t necessarily a reflection of the number of local residents facing domestic violence. On average, a woman will leave and return to an abusive relationship seven times before leaving it permanently, for reasons including fear for her safety or that of her children, economic dependence, and guilt or shame. The violence is often kept quiet for some time, but Arnold said the most effective ways to prevent domestic violence come from it being public knowledge.
“Awareness, and people speaking up,” she said.
“There are resources that can be offered … but it takes a lot of courage for women to leave.”
The Women’s Resource Centre helps gain emergency protection orders for women as well as men. It also offers counseling on a voluntary basis to women who have been abused or who face abuse, regardless of whether they stay at Safe Haven.
According to Statistics Canada, Manitoba has the second highest rate of intimate partner violence in Canada. Out of every 100,000 citizens, 896 victims report violence to police – nearly double the Canadian rate of police-reported domestic violence.
The Take Back The Night march is open to all residents. It takes place beginning at Pioneer Square at 5:15 pm on Nov. 25.
