Debates of the Senate (Hansard)

2nd Session, 37th Parliament,
Volume 140, Issue 27

Monday, December 9, 2002
The Honourable Dan Hays, Speaker

Violence Against Women

Hon. Mobina S.B. Jaffer: Honourable senators, human security remains a major challenge internationally, especially where it concerns the safety of women and girls. Violence against women continues to present barriers to the healthy development of communities worldwide.

Honourable senators, every year on December 6, Canadians are reminded that violence against women continues in this country. On the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, we remember the 14 young women who were brutally murdered 13 years ago at the École polytechnique de Montréal. Equally significantly, we realize that violence against women remains a problem within our society.

Ms. Elaine Teofilovici of the YWCA of Canada stated that violence against women is a health and social epidemic. It requires a national response, not only adequate resources to address the needs of victims of domestic violence but also a substantial commitment to research and develop effective programs and services that help families move out of the cycle of violence.

Surveys of people across the country demonstrate that Canadians continue to believe that the problem of family violence is very real. There is much support for taking action to protect women from family violence and abusive situations.

Much remains to be done, honourable senators.

It is important that we, as parliamentarians, make every effort to help eliminate violence against women both at home and abroad.