 Prevention of Violence Against Women Week
April 20 - 26, 2008
Message from Hon. Ida Chong
Ministry of Community Services and Minister Responsible for Seniors'
and Women's Issues
As we mark Prevention of Violence Against Women
Week, I urge every British Columbian to join me in
the effort to end violence against women.
Violence against women happens far too often in our
communities and many people consider it a private
matter and are reluctant to speak out. Although
violence in any form is never easy to talk about,
ultimately domestic violence affects us all, as it
concerns the safety and well being of our
grandmothers, mothers, daughters, granddaughters,
sisters, aunts, wives, partners and friends.
Each one of us has a responsibility to stop the
violence. Almost $50 million a year goes to
prevention and intervention initiatives, including
24/7 services at transition house, safe homes,
second stage housing, counselling, and outreach and
multi-cultural outreach services. This significant
government funding is only one pillar in building
the foundation that will help stop the cycle of
violence.
We must focus on the attitudes that lead to violence
and prevent it from happening in the first place,
and engage men and boys as partners in preventing
violence. We can begin by raising awareness about
the issue at home, in the workplace, at school, and
in our communities. Teaching today’s children that
all violence is unacceptable will help create the
generational change needed to make violence against
women a thing of the past and build a future free
from violence for women and girls in British
Columbia.
Everyone has the right to live violence free and
it’s up to us to ensure that all women and girls in
B.C. enjoy this essential human right.
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