November 26, 2018
Provincial Initiatives Focus on Prevention of Gender-based Violence in Manitoba
As part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month in November, the province wants to shatter the silence that has allowed violence to escalate against women and girls, announced Sustainable Development Minister Rochelle Squires, minister responsible for status of women.
“We want to take aim at victim blaming and the notion that it’s a woman’s job to keep herself safe and prevent sexual assault,” said Squires. “We must place the onus squarely on perpetrators or potential perpetrators, because the best way to stop sexual assault is to not assault someone in the first place.”
Squires unveiled two new posters to address victim blaming and create better understanding about consent. They were created in collaboration with Winnipeg Safe City, a partnership that includes the City of Winnipeg, Winnipeg Police Service and community groups as part of the United Nations (UN) Women’s Safe Cities and Safe Public Spaces initiative to reduce sexual violence against women and girls.
The posters will be shared with community-based organizations, universities, law enforcement and health service providers, as well as available for download at www.manitoba.ca/msw and in print through Manitoba Status of Women at 204-945-6281 ormsw@gov.mb.ca.
The province is participating in the international 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, which launched Nov. 25 on the UN’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. This year’s global social media conversation uses the hashtag #HearMeToo to unite survivors and activists. Squires will use her social media accounts to share facts about violence including information specific to women with a disability, Indigenous women and newcomers to Canada.
“Statistics show one woman in Canada is killed by her intimate partner every six days, and global data estimates one in three women worldwide experience physical or sexual intimate partner violence at some point in their life,” said Squires. “The time for change is now. Hear me too.”
To culminate the campaigns, the minister and Barbara Bowes, chair of Manitoba Women’s Advisory Council, will host a public ceremony at the legislative building 5 p.m. Dec. 6 to mark the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.
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