Envision Counselling and Support Centre used the week of Dec. 2 to 9 to shed light on the issue of partner abuse. Executive Director of Envision Patt Lenover-Adams stated that the "research and statistics on partner abuse is staggering."
In Canada, two women per week are murdered by their intimate partner. On average there will be 100 women that are murdered by their male partners or ex-partners each year in Canada. In addition to that, nearly one-third of women can expect to be the victim of intimate partner violence sometime in their lifetime. Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered individuals are victims of intimate partner abuse just as often as heterosexual women.
"Media reporting of celebrities like Rihanna's domestic abuse victimization demonstrates that even the most accomplished individual can fall victim to this problem," Lenover-Adams states.
This week is significant historically, as on Dec. 6, 1989, gunman Marc Lepine confronted engineering students at l'Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal, and went on a shooting rampage, killing 14 women before turning the gun on himself.
Lenover-Adams notes that abuse has a huge impact on children as well. Each year in Saskatchewan, approximately 24,000 children will be exposed to male violence in their homes. Children are present during 80 per cent of these assault incidents. Studies show that children suffering from abuse develop a range of maladaptive, anti-social and self-destruction behaviours and thoughts from trying to cope with the abuse.
Over the past three years, Envision Counselling and Support Centre has seen a significant increase in the number of people accessing services.
"My hope is that by increasing awareness of this issue, we will raise public consciousness against all forms of violence," Lenover-Adams said, adding that in the future Envision will continue to put emphasis on the empowerment of women, education in the community and having supports in place to ensure that all families can live safe and happy lives.
