British Columbians can stand together during the week of Apr. 14-20 to condemn all acts of violence against women as the B.C. government proclaims Prevention of Violence against Women Week.

This week is an opportunity to acknowledge that violence against women has serious adverse physical, psychological, sexual, financial and cultural impacts on women, children, families and communities. It also provides the chance to let women know they are not alone and that help and support are available to women who are victims of all types of violence.

Community groups throughout the province will be holding events to send the message that violence against women is not acceptable in our province and that all women have the right to feel safe and live free from violence.

Just one example of the many community-led initiatives happening during the week is the Howe Sound Women's Centre Society's Clothes Line Project. The project gives the public the chance to decorate a shirt with anti-violence messages to display all week at the Whistler Public Library. Staff and volunteers will be on hand to support victims of violence who would like to reach out for help. Full details of other community events can be found at: www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/crimeprevention/calendar/doc/PVAW_Week_Calendar_2013.pdf.

The B.C. government has shown a clear commitment to preventing violence against women and supporting female victims through more than 100 transition house programs and over 400 victim service and violence-against-women counselling and outreach programs. Government has also established the Provincial Office of Domestic Violence and is currently developing a comprehensive, three-year domestic violence plan for implementation this year.

If you have been the victim of violence, or know someone who has, support is available at any time. Call your local police or access help by calling VictimLink BC - a toll-free, confidential telephone service available 24 hours a day, seven days a week in more than 110 languages, at 1 800 563-0808.

Quotes:

Shirley Bond, Minister of Justice and Attorney General -

"Violence against women not only impacts victims directly but also has serious consequences for the health and well-being of children, families and communities. That's why our government supports hundreds of programs in communities throughout B.C. in an effort to stop this senseless violence. Prevention of Violence Against Women Week provides an important opportunity to remind everyone that violence against women has no place in our province."

Stephanie Cadieux, Minister of Children and Family Development -

"Prevention of Violence Against Women Week is an important awareness opportunity for all British Columbians. Women have the right to feel safe and live free from violence and to know that they are not alone if they are a victim. With the Provincial Office of Domestic Violence and other services, B.C. is focussed on having the supports in place to help prevent and address violence against women."

Shana Murray, community program manager, Howe Sound Women's Centre Society -

"At the Howe Sound Women's Centre, we promote women's equality and empowerment through advocacy, support, and counselling. Prevention of Violence Against Women Week gives us one more opportunity to reach out in the community to increase awareness and to help victims get the support they need."

Jamie Taras, director of community relations, B.C. Lions -

"Prevention of Violence Against Women Week reminds us that we all have a role to play in breaking the silence on violence against women. Thanks to our partnership with the province, Status of Women, Encana, BCGEU and EVA BC, we are able to reach out to youth through our Be More Than a Bystander program. Over the past two years we've visited more than 20,000 students at 40 schools encouraging young people to join us in our quest to end violence against women."

Quick Facts:

• The B.C. government commits more than $70 million a year in prevention and intervention services and programs to better protect B.C. families involved in domestic violence and other crimes. This includes:
• Support for 100 transition house programs.
• Support to over 160 police-based and community-based victim services programs, as well as a toll-free, provincewide, 24-hour multilingual victim crisis line (VictimLink BC).
• Funding and support to over 250 programs that provide counselling and outreach services to women fleeing violence in their relationships and children who witness abuse.
• In 2011/12, victim services programs across B.C. assisted more than 100,000 people and provided more than 460,000 hours of service.
• VictimLink BC is a free, multilingual crisis line for victims of family or sexual violence and other crimes, giving victims access to help 24/7 (1 800 563-0808, www.victimlinkbc.ca).
• VictimLink BC provides service in more than 110 languages, including 17 North American aboriginal languages.
• Government provides nearly $1 million a year for 12 multicultural outreach services to women who have experienced abuse and for whom English is not their first language. These services are provided in 10 communities and in 24 different languages.

Learn More:

To see a full list of events around the province, visit: www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/crimeprevention/calendar/doc/PVAW_Week_Calendar_2013.pdf.

For a directory of victim services and violence against women programs in British Columbia, please visit: http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/victimservices/directory/docs/victim-service-directory.pdf

To find publications and resources for victims of violence, go to: www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/victimservices/publications/index.htm

To read more about the Don't Be a Bystander program, please visit:www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/2013/04/groundbreaking-anti-violence-program-extended.html

Contact:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Justice
250 356-6961