CUPE BC’s Executive Board issued the following statement today:
Today, November 25, is the United Nations’ International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the beginning of the UN’s annual 16 Days of Action that culminate on December 10, Human Rights Day.
The statistics collected by the United Nations around the world remain horrifying—one in three women around the world have been subjected to physical or sexual violence, globally an estimated 137 women are killed by their partner or an immediate family member every day, and an estimated 1 in 7 women experienced physical and/or sexual abuse from an intimate partner or husband in the past year.
These numbers reflect the situation prior to the pandemic. We know that the lockdowns and increased isolation have made the situation much worse. Anecdotal information suggests that equity seeking women have been particularly impacted by increased rates of violence. Violence against women with disabilities who rely on their partners for intimate care and access to survival resources has escalated dramatically.
We have so much work to do here in British Columbia as we rebuild from the pandemic. This work must include support towards the elimination of gender-based violence and must include calls for access to paid leave for women fleeing intimate and sexual violence.
For survivors of gender-based violence every day brings fear, and at time what feels like insurmountable challenges.
Here are resources that provide support to women experiencing violence:
Women Against Violence Against Women: https://www.wavaw.ca/
Ending Violence Association of BC:
Battered Women’s Support Services:
Information on the United Nations’ campaign can be found here: https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/ending-violence-against-women/take-action
