The statistics are shocking when it comes to violence against women in Canada. And that has prompted a local women’s organization to join with Chimo Community Services to host a conference on the issue Wednesday (Dec. 3).
“One in three women in Canada will experience some form of gender-based violence in their lifetime,” said Fran Mitchell, president of Richmond’s chapter of the Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW).
The local club of 86 women is affiliated with the national organization, which is a non-partisan volunteer, self-funded entity, with approximately 9,000 members in all provinces.
Society must continue to have confidence, added Mitchell, that when people work with each other — community partners, and different levels of government — awareness will grow and the message, that violence against women and girls cannot and will not be tolerated, will resonate.
“This conference is yet another opportunity for us to connect on this very important issue,” Mitchell said.
“Not only does violence jeopardize the security and wellbeing of women and girls, it also has a large economic impact on survivors and Canada as a whole.”
Statistics Canada and others have estimated the cost of intimate partner violence and sexual violence at $7.4 and $1.9 billion respectively, including the costs of social services, healthcare, the justice system, and lost productivity.
Chimo’s Our Voices Against Violence conference is being held 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 3 at the Executive Airport Plaza Hotel & Conference Centre. For details call 604-279-7154 or visit chimoservices.com/events.
