TORONTO—Queen’s Park was Wrapped in Courage on November 29. Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) and representatives of Women’s Shelters across Ontario stood together for a photograph, with everyone wearing purple scarves. The purple scarf is a symbol of the need for action to support survivors of gender-based violence, their children and the services that provide them with vital support across the province. The purple scarves are also a sign of your support for survivors of violence across Ontario. It’s a signal of your commitment to turn awareness into action during and beyond Woman Abuse Prevention month (November) and the 16 days of activism.
“Everyone in the legislature had a purple scarf on along with representatives of shelters from across Ontario who had the opportunity to meet their MPPs,” said Colleen Hill, executive director of Manitoulin Family Resources (MFR).
Ms. Hill pointed out at the ceremony, “they acknowledged the list of the 62 women and children who died from gender violence in Ontario this year. This is an increase of 10 over last year, which is awful.”
November marks both Woman Abuse Prevention Month and the 11th anniversary of Ontario’s Wrapped in Courage Campaign.
“Today, on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, we have released the 2022-2023 Annual Femicide List, illustrating a year of system failure in Ontario. Over the last 52 weeks, there have been 62 women and children killed. There have been 93 charges reported by media, laid against 57 men accused in relation to these femicides, while another 14 cases were deemed a femicide suicide,” an Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses (OAITH) release explains.
“If you notice that you are reading more often about women and children being killed, it’s because you are,” said Marlene Ham, executive director OAITH. “This past year alone, femicides have occurred more than once a week in Ontario. Thirty unique communities have been affected by femicides this year. As numbers of femicides continue to climb year after year we must come together to address the root causes of men’s violence, to ensure we can change these abhorrent conditions.”
“Each name is more than a headline, it’s a family member, a friend, a worker, a neighbour. Every life lost to gender-based violence is one too many. Recommendations from the recent inquests into the deaths of Gladys Helen Ryan, Carol Culleton, Anastasia Kuzyk and Nathalie Warmerdam identify the actions that can ne taken. Professionals, community members, government ministries, support services and legislated systems can learn, be accountable and take action through these recommendations to make a difference and prevent further femicides.”
The OAITH reports that, “Since 1990, we are aware of over 1,020 femicide victims who have lost their lives to men’s violence. Every year we release our annual Femicide List based on media reporting of women and children killed by men in Ontario. We work to ensure that we remember the lives lost, bring attention to the violence women experience and take action to move our list to zero.”
When it comes to addressing gender-based violence everyone has a role in taking action.
“One of the key messages that was raised is the need for affordable, accessible housing and food for those that are victims,” said Ms. Hill. “There are victims of violence who can’t afford to move out of a home in a violent situation because they can’t afford housing or food.”
“I had a very good meeting with MPP Mantha,” said Ms. Hill. “He said he would be bringing up these issues and other concerns raised in budgetary discussions.”
During the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence campaign, you can learn about 16 ways you can help end gender-based violence.
Access the 2022-2023 Annual Femicide List at bit.ly/2022-2023FemicideList.
