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London, Ontario: Thursday, June 21, 2007 @ 12:45, Victoria Park - Community members are joining together to launch 10 months - 10 Steps - Women are Missing.
This initiative is part of a local and provincial campaign developed by women's advocates across the Province to engage communities and all levels of government to STEP IT UP - End Violence Against Women. Women are under-represented in our governments, businesses, and leadership positions in the justice, health and education systems. The most vulnerable women are missing in budgets, in policy decisions and in program planning and delivery. Women are missing from our communities and we haven't noticed. According to the RCMP in 2002, there were 2,039 missing females in Canada; 1,279 white and 760 non-white. Approximately 500 were native women missing and/or murdered. These numbers have not changed much over the past few years. According to Canadian government statistics, young indigenous women in Canada are at least five times more likely than all other women to die as a result of violence. Violence against women is a community issue and it affects us all. Taking Action begins at a local level in raising awareness and creating opportunities for everyone to engage in showing support and working together to find solutions in keeping our community safe for everyone. The Missing Women Committee will be holding a monthly Step It Up event from now until March 2008 to ensure that everyone hears about and takes action on the issues of poverty, housing, racism and other issues of oppression and violence against women. The local committee is made up of community partners At^lohsa Native Family Healing Services, Sexual Assault Centre London, Centre for Research and Education to End Violence Against Women and Children, Women's Community House, My Sister's Place, Women's Rural Resource Centre Strathroy and Area, AIDS Committee of London, Rotholme Family Shelter. All organizations are committed to working towards a future where women are free from violence. Join us on Thursday, June 21 - Aboriginal Solidarity Day - Victoria Park - 12:45pm. Darlene Ritchie, Executive Director, At^lohsa Native Family Healing Services will launch the initiative with Step One - Understand that violence against women is an equality rights issue. Darlene will remind us of her People's history, and the roles and experiences of women in the aboriginal communities. Contact: Darlene Ritchie, Executive Director, At^lohsa Native Family Healing Services 519-438-0068,
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