Opinion: It's time to recognize gender-based violence for what it is: an epidemic

This article was originally published Dec 05, 2024 on The Vancouver Sun 

Opinion: On Dec. 6, 1989, 14 women were killed at Montreal's École Polytechnique. Decades later little has been done to address gender-based violence. Our province, and country as a whole, needs action now

By: Erin Seeley, Katrina Chen

 

Thirty-five years ago, 14 women’s lives were cut short in an act of violent misogyny.

On Dec. 6, 1989, 14 people were fatally shot in a mechanical engineering classroom at Montreal’s École Polytechnique, simply because they were women.

Decades later, while we may mark the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, little has been done to address the prevalence and impacts of gender-based violence.

The Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability estimates that between 2018 and 2023, at least one woman or girl was killed every two days in this country. Observatory data shows that, on average, 20 women were killed in B.C. each year during that same period. So far in 2024, at least 19 women have been killed in B.C.

One of those women is Lindsay Christine Danchella, who was assaulted outside a home in Trail last month. She died from her injuries in hospital. Her estranged husband has been charged with second-degree murder. She had reportedly been at that home to hand over their two-year-old son as part of a custody arrangement.

But we know there are so many more untold stories.

According to Statistics Canada, 48 per cent of women in B.C. over the age of 15 have experienced some form of intimate partner violence, whether physical, sexual, emotional, psychological or financial. For some, that figure is higher, reaching 64 per cent for Indigenous women and 72 per cent for 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals.

We also know through the YWCA’s programs supporting self-identified women who are immigrants that gender-based violence disproportionately impacts racialized women and newcomers.

Gender-based violence is much more personal than a statistic. Most of us have a friend, sister, mother, neighbour or colleague who has been impacted by it. Many of us have experienced gender-based violence firsthand. For some victims, the violence is immediately life-altering, if not deadly.

Gender-based violence have significant health impacts, and it can lead to people losing their homes, their jobs and their support systems.

Children who are enmeshed in violent situations may also face ripple effects. In other words, the impacts of gender-based violence are far-reaching and can last generations.

Despite these deep and life-changing impacts, gender-based violence remains a dramatically under-reported crime. Those who do share their story — even with loved ones — often face shame, misunderstanding, judgment, indifference and re-traumatization. More trust in victims and increased awareness is critical to empowering others to come forward to get the support they need.

It’s time we recognize how pervasive gender-based violence is in our province. Not only that, it’s time we acknowledge this issue requires a co-ordinated, whole of government response by declaring gender-based violence an epidemic.

We’ve joined together with more than 40 individuals and organizations, calling on the province to make this crucial declaration. Municipalities across Ontario have already taken this step, while Nova Scotia made its own declaration in September. B.C.’s provincial government has an opportunity to take its own bold action and recognize the epidemic proportion of gender-based violence. This isn’t about politics, this is about saving lives.

Declaring this epidemic will lead to increased public awareness, but more than that, it will demonstrate to survivors that B.C. recognizes the frequency and severity of gender-based violence and is committed to taking steps toward its prevention.

Our province — and country as a whole — needs action now. We need government spending on violence prevention, early intervention and survivor support services.

We cannot wait another 35 years for concrete action. If we are to truly remember Geneviève Bergeron, Hélène Colgan, Nathalie Croteau, Barbara Daigneault, Anne-Marie Edward, Maud Haviernick, Maryse Laganière, Maryse Leclair, Anne-Marie Lemay, Sonia Pelletier, Michèle Richard, Annie St-Arneault, Annie Turcotte, Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz and the hundreds of women who have been killed since the École Polytechnique massacre, we must commit to prevention and support today.

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Erin Seeley is CEO of YWCA Metro Vancouver; Katrina Chen is a former MLA and former minister of state for child care.