By Shabna Ali and Tracy Porteous
The candlelight vigils every Dec. 6 to remember the 14 women murdered at École Polytechnique in Montreal are important and moving because they honour all those women, and women and children victimized every year, everywhere.
However, the day isn’t solely about remembering. It’s called the Day of Action and Remembrance on Violence Against Women and Children.
However in British Columbia, there has been far too little action.
Violence against women and children takes a terrible toll. In B.C., almost 100 women were killed by their spouses between 2003 and 2011. The murdered and missing women from Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and B.C.’s Highway 16 are reminders of the epidemic of violence.
Almost 60,000 women experience sexual and physical violence each year in B.C.
Having a day to remember isn’t enough. We need committed leadership.
We need people who speak up when they see women disrespected and step in when they see injustice. We need to choose the kind of society we want to live in and hold leaders accountable.
In September, Victoria’s police department withdrew critical resources from a regional domestic violence unit created as a result of recommendations from an inquest into a horrific mass murder in Oak Bay in 2007.
This unit is a “luxury,” the department said.
In the last two years, reports by the BC Representative for Children and Youth and the Justice Institute of B.C. found not enough is being done to ensure women and their children are kept safe from violence.
Programs in B.C. have faced budget cuts that prevented them from providing help that could keep women and children safe from violence, and help them recover.
On Nov. 11, 2011, 124 transition houses, safe homes and children who witness abuse programs participated in a one-day census conducted by the B.C. Society of Transition Houses. On one day, these programs helped 1,110 women and children in person, and another 1,461 via phone or email.
However, they turned away 658 women, youth and children. Victim services, counselling and outreach programs connected to the Ending Violence Association of B.C. face the same problem. There just isn’t enough funding to respond.
Community services make a huge difference every day. It is simply wrong when they are prevented from providing help and support that can save lives.
High-profile tragedies bring a flurry of activity on violence against women and children. However, what’s needed is a continuing, well-planned and adequately funded set of supports and prevention services shaped by communities.
British Columbians need to hear from leaders at all levels of government about their specific plans to address violence against woman and children.
A provincial election is coming. Please make your voice heard.
We will continue to remember and honour those who have fallen to violence, but it is time for action.
Shabna Ali is executive director of the B.C. Society of Transition Houses and Tracy Porteous is executive director of the Ending Violence Association of B.C. They submitted this on behalf of the Roundtable of Provincial Service Organizations.
