YWCA Peterborough Haliburton, Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre and the Peterborough Domestic Abuse Network applaud Peterborough City Council’s approved motion to declare all forms of gender-based violence an epidemic in our community.
Fulfilling the first recommendation from the Renfrew Inquest, the City of Peterborough has become the 74th municipality in the province of Ontario to declare gender-based violence an epidemic.
“This declaration is crucial in continuing to provide awareness around the impacts of violence against women. Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre and our partner agencies work tirelessly to support survivors after they have experienced violence. This motion helps support all survivors and also shifts the narrative to focus on the importance of preventing future violence.” Brittany McMillan – Executive Director, Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre.
“This is a big step in the right direction for our community, in solidarity with dozens of other municipalities across Ontario,” says Kim Dolan, Executive Director, YWCA Peterborough Haliburton. “On behalf of all our partner agencies, and the women, children, and gender-diverse people we serve through the YWCA, I want to thank Peterborough’s City Councillors for making this historic declaration. We look forward to working together with our fellow social service agencies as well as with the City to effect change and make a difference in the lives of all those individuals experiencing or at risk of gender-based violence.”
“PDAN members have been working toward this as a first step toward local implementation of recommendations from the Renfrew Inquest, Mass Casualty Commission and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls final reports. These reports identify actionable items that, if implemented, will help to prevent further violence against women and girls in our community. Our members look forward to continuing to implement further recommendations at a local level and build on these efforts.” Sarah Bass – Manager – PDAN, CCRC
About the Peterborough Domestic Abuse Network (PDAN)
PDAN is a network of people and organizations working to end intimate partner violence in Peterborough City and County. For more information, please visit www.ccrc-ptbo.com/pdan.
Read Global News coverage of the declaration:
