November 25 — International Day for the
Elimination of Violence Against Women
A Message from the Honourable Ida
Chong
Minister Responsible for Seniors' and Women's Issues
Though November 25 has been observed for decades as
a day against violence, it was officially designated International
Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women by the United
Nations in 1999.
The goal was, and still is, to raise public awareness and
ultimately change the attitudes and behaviours that lead to violence
against women in the first place.
Each one of us has a responsibility to stop the violence. Though the
provincial government spends nearly $50 million annually to support
a range of prevention work as well as front-line services that help
women who have experienced violence, government funding is only one
pillar in building the foundation that will help stop the cycle of
violence.
Real change starts with individuals, with families and with
communities. We must focus on the attitudes that lead to violence
and prevent it from happening in the first place.
Teaching this generation of children that violence is unacceptable
will help create the generational change needed to make violence
against women a thing of the past. It is my hope that in
commemorating this day we will continue to work together toward
making our communities’ safer for women and girls. But there is
still more work to be done.
Today let us pause and consider what we can do, individually and
collectively, to help heal victims of violence and build a future
free from violence for every girl and woman in British Columbia.
Together, we can make a difference.
Updated November 22, 2007 |
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