BWSS Commemorates the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women – November 25, 2017
Violence by a male partner is the leading cause of non-fatal injury to women in Canada and in Canada, every five days a woman is killed by her male partner.
Globally, on the basis of data from 2005 to 2016 for 87 countries, 19 per cent of women between 15 and 49 years of age said they had experienced physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner in the 12 months prior to the survey. In the most extreme cases, such violence can lead to death. In 2012, almost half of all women who were victims of intentional homicide worldwide were killed by an intimate partner or family member, compared to 6 per cent of male victims.
As an extreme form of human rights violation in Canada and around the world, BWSS has been on the front-line taking action to end violence for almost 40 years.
This year BWSS commemorates the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and launches the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence through hosting a series of events:
Saturday, November 25th
International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
Violence by a male partner is the leading cause of non-fatal injury to women in Canada and in Canada, every five days a woman is killed by her male partner.
Sunday, November 26th
Meet Connor
On any given night in Canada, 3,500 women and their 2,700 children sleep in shelters because it isn’t safe at home. On any given night, about 300 women and their children are turned away because shelters are already full. From November 25 – December 10th, over 5,000 people will receive a letter with the story of Connor.
Connor was five years old when he accompanied his mother Diane, to our office. It was at the beginning of what promised to be a very busy day.
Connor’s mother had fled with him overnight after his father had assaulted her…again. Finding all the shelters full, they had spent the night in her car.
A shelter worker gave our number. And now they were in our office desperate to find a safe place to be. To hear more about Connor email endingviolence@bwss.org
Monday, November 27th
Cyber Monday
Resisting Cyber-Violence Against Women – Recognizing and Resisting Gender Violence in the Online Environment
Seeing an emergence of cyber-violence against women both as a weapon against women and an environment where women are made to feel unsafe, Battered Women’s Support Services dug deeper to develop our analysis of this type of violence. On Monday, November 27th follow BWSS on Twitter at @EndingViolence to learn more about recognizing and resisting gender violence in the online environment.
Tuesday, November 28th
Giving Tuesday – Safety Changes Everything
This Giving Tuesday give the gift of safety
All donations made on November 28th will be matched dollar for dollar.
Wednesday, November 29th
Angela Davis in Vancouver – Imagining a World with Freedom and Justice
BWSS seeks to bring communities together to address social issues during its 16 days of activism to end violence against women. BWSS is delighted to announce that the legendary feminist icon and political activist, Angela Davis, will speak at this year’s main event, “Imagining a World with Freedom and Justice” this Wednesday, November 29th at Vancouver’s Orpheum Theatre. Tickets available at Ticketmaster
Friday, December 1st
World AIDs Day
BWSS will be on Twitter and Facebook connecting the dots between violence against women and AIDs sharing an intersectional analysis of women’s experiences and focuses on changing the structural inequalities that affect women’s reproductive health and their ability to control their sexual health and reproductive lives.
Saturday, December 2nd
Buy Local and Social
Since 2015, BWSS has participated in #BuyItFwd campaign encouraging people to support their local economy by choosing social enterprises for their holiday purchases. Follow BWSS on Twitter at @EndingViolence
Wednesday, December 6th
Montreal Massacre
National Day of Remembrance and Action of Violence against Women
BWSS hosts their Annual General Meeting featuring keynote address by Rhiannon Bennett, Pulling Together with special acknowledgement of Ruth Lea Taylor, veteran feminist family law lawyer.
Sunday, December 10th
Human Rights Day
“Gassy Jack” Monument Video Online Launch – BWSS reveals suppressed histories about the roots of violence against Indigenous women and girls through a poignant video featuring local Indigenous women.
BWSS is on the front-line taking action and now more than ever women are reaching out to BWSS for support.
In 2016, BWSS responded to over 11,000 requests for services up from the previous year
- 638 new women accessed our services
- 6,871 calls to our crisis line
- 244 new intakes for counselling
- 194 new women joined support groups
- 2816 counselling sessions
- Created 450 individual safety plans
- Accompanied 31 women to court
In November 2016 alone:
- 601 women called our crisis line
- 70 new women accessed our services
- 56 women accessed legal services
- 53 women now have personalized safety plan
For more information: email endingviolence@bwss.org
