Take Back the Night 2012
September 12, 2012 at 10:28 AM
On September 20, women and men from all walks of life will march in solidarity with others across Canada and internationally for a dual purpose: to end violence against women and reclaim the streets for all. We will gather at 6:30 at The Turtle Island Neigbourhood Centre and the march will begin at 7:00. We will meet back at Turtle Island for refreshments and community-building.
This theme recognizes that when women are safe from violence, our streets are safer for all people. Domestic violence, sexual assaults, female homicides and missing and murdered women all reflect a culture which objectifies, disrespects and dishonours the value of women. Violence against women reflects cultural values that perpetuate violence against marginalized
people, in all its forms.
In the first six months of 2012, six women are alleged to have been murdered by their intimate partners. According to Statistics Canada (2009) 48 000 women in Manitoba, almost 8 percent, reported experiencing spousal abuse in the past five years. Last year in Manitoba, 1 477 sexual assaults were reported to the police; this represents only a small fraction of the sexual violence perpetrated against women, given that only 1 in 10 sexual assaults are reported. Currently there are over 80 unsolved cases of missing and murdered women, with a disproportionate number
being Aboriginal women.
As a community, we will take to the streets together to protest the ongoing violence against
women and reclaim the right to safe streets for all those who experience violence.
