How Sask. groups are raising awareness about violence against women
Groups across the province are observing the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women to raise awareness and provide education about abuse.
Saskatchewan has the highest rate of intimate partner violence among the provinces and territories. Saskatchewan’s rate is twice the national average, according to the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA).
“We want to bring it out of the shadows and have a conversation that will be inspiring and that will allow us to have some hope that we can do things in our personal lives,” said Faith Bodnar, executive director of CMHA’s Saskatoon chapter.
CMHA hosted a virtual event with author and journalist Sally Armstrong. Armstrong discussed her advocacy for the rights of women and girls around the world.
Bodnar says the CMHA offers support to people who may be experiencing abuse as it can often take a toll on women's mental health.
“Trauma and PTSD that results from that fear and isolation and somehow being convinced that perhaps in some cases you might deserve that kind of domestic violence or intimate partner violence that you’re receiving,” said Bodnar.
The Provincial Association of Transition Houses and Services of Saskatchewan (PATHS) held training for family law practitioners to educate them on the dynamics of domestic violence.
“The importance of days like today are not to take anything away from other groups that also experience violence, but to recognize that when violence is directed at women and girls and other marginalized genders there’s a different dynamic in play,” said PATHS executive director Jo-Anne Dusel.
She says when men and boys experience violence it’s often out in the world, being in the wrong place at the wrong time, a result of crime or their own criminal activity.
“The majority of women experiencing family violence are not safe in their own home and the women who are killed as a result of domestic homicide are often killed in their own homes,” said Dusel.
During Violence Prevention Week, starting Nov. 28, PATHS will be hosting online sessions to teach people how they can reach out safely for help when leaving an abusive situation.
According to the United Nations, nearly one in three women have been abused in their lifetime.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Quebec judge orders bus driver to stand trial for 2023 daycare crash deaths
A judge has ordered a Quebec man to stand trial on charges of first-degree murder in the deaths of two children killed when a bus rammed into a Montreal-area daycare last year.
Trudeau promises $1B in loans for child-care providers to expand care centres
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
N.B. man wins $64 million from Lotto 6/49
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
BREAKING Calgary officer charged after allegedly assaulting handcuffed man
A Calgary police officer has been charged after allegedly assaulting a handcuffed man two years ago.