The Transition Society has decorated Rose Harbour with t-shirts proclaiming messages against violence against women as well as statements about the impact of abuse as part of the Clothesline Project.
The society, as well as the Women’s Centre, Community Based Victim’s Services, the RCMP Domestic Violence Coordinator, KDC Heat and Stopping the Violence Outreach program will also be setting up a display of the t-shirts in Spirit Square on Thursday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. The Clothesline Project is a display of t-shirts that have been personally decorated by people who have been affected by abuse.
The message may be a statement against any kind of violence or a statement of hope for the future.
Blue and red T-shirts represent sexual abuse, yellow or beige T-shirts represent abuse by a partner, a white T-shirt represents murder, a purple T-shirt represents assault because of sexual orientation and a green T-shirt represents children who have been affected by violence. It is airing out society’s dirty laundry.
Prevention of Violence Against Women Week is April 17-24.
This week is an opportunity for the community to take a stand against violence against women. The message is it’s time for the women and men of Campbell River to step forward to change social attitudes, beliefs and behaviors that allow violence to continue.
Living violence free is every women’s basic human right.
About 760,000 or four per cent of Canadians over the age of 15 years said they had experienced intimate partner violence in the previous five years, according to the 2016 Public Health Officer’s Report. And women are more likely than men to experience severe and frequent violence from a spouse or someone they are dating.
Campbell River also displays the white sheet with “These Hands Don’t Hurt” on it for non-abusive males to trace their hands on in support of this cause.
If you are in an abusive relationship or know someone that is in an abusive relationship there is confidential help out there at the resources listed below:
Ann Elmore Transition House-250-286-3666; Community Based Victim Services-250-287-2421; Campbell River Women’s Centre- (250) 287-3044; Stopping the Violence Outreach Program- (250) 286-3430
For more of this event see campbellrivermirror.com
