It is alleged that every single week, a female is killed by the hands of a man closely associated to her.
The alarm has been raised by advocates on gender – based violence, as an urgent and clear strategy is called for as femicide continues to intensify.
Ontario Association of Transition Houses (OAITH), informed that Ontario has witnessed 30 femicides in 30 weeks, as statistics indicate 52 deaths in 52 weeks.
Executive director at OAITH Marlene Ham expressed the frustration that in June five femicides were witnessed, and further three in July already, she said. it is overwhelming to grasp the reality that every week, another woman can be expected to be slayed by a man close to her.
The report published after Ontario declared gender – based violence is not an epidemic, as a request by a coroner into the murder of three women in 2015, suggested the province to do so as part of the 86 recommendations. Gender – based violence as an epidemic have been declared by 25 municipalities in Ontario, including Durham Region, Peel Region and Halton region.
In retaliation, the province argued, the term “epidemic” is used when considering the spread of disease, and does not include to intimate partner violence (IPV).
The funding for the increased rate of IPV during the pandemic has not kept pace with the increased demand for services, informs the advocates.
It is said that the provincial government need to formulate a clear gender – based strategies, with the already existing roadmap inclusive of recommendations made in the Renfrew County murder inquest. Those recommendations comprise that the province launch an independent IPV commission, integrating IPV into each municipality’s community well – being and safety plan and formulating an emergency fund for survivors in quest of protection.
The request of a commission and formulating safe rooms in survivors’ homes in high-risk cases were rejected by Ontario.
Ham informed that intimate partner violence problems root, is from men controlling women using harassment and violence, indigenous and women of colour are affected disproportionately. Ontario has confirmed it is taking action on 59 of 86 recommendations.
The province stated to the CBC News, that an investment of $250 million has been already initiated for victims of violence and violence prevention enterprises, including supporting survivors, enhancing transitional housing, funding crisis hotlines and expanding sexual assault services.
