A Message from Ettie Rutherford,
Ontario Provincial Representative
Congress of Black Women of Canada,
for the
National Day of Remembrance and Action on
December 6, 2006
On December
6, 1989, fourteen women were murdered in Montreal by a man who blamed women
for the misfortunes in his life, and so each year on December 6 public events
are held across Canada to commemorate the death of those women as well as to
focus on violence against all women. The killing of women is an almost daily
event in Canada. Every year more than one hundred women are murdered in their
homes by their male partners. In Montreal alone, during 1990, there were more
women killed by their partners than those killed at the Polytechnic.
On an annual
basis thousands of women and girls are being beaten by their mates and family
members.
However, in
spite of this it must be pointed out that for there to be any realistic
dialogue or strategizing in dealing this awful dilemma we need to look at
family violence in its entirety, and not just violence against female spouses
and random acts in the community. We need to start looking
at violence against elders and children, because, over the years some women
who have bemoaned their personal plight, have at the same time turned a deaf
ear to the cries of their daughters or nieces who are being sexually and
physically abused by family members, or being beaten by boyfriends. As well
they have disregarded the cries of aged mothers or grandmothers who are being
assaulted by their grown children with whom they live.
Some in our
community will say that this is not happening; however we are aware that
whatever happens in the wider community most assuredly takes place in ours
seeing that Family violence cuts across socioeconomic, ethnic and cultural
groups with statistics clearly showing that family violence is pervasive
throughout the country.
The Canadian
government has reported that Family violence has a disastrous effect on the
country’s existence in that in measurable health costs for violence against
women Canada exceeds $1.5 annually. Costs include medical and dental treatment
for injuries, long term physical and psychological care, lost time at work, as
well as the costs incurred through use of Transition Houses and Crises
Centers.
We should
also remember that our children who witness violence are at risk of themselves
becoming abusers as they mature, thus perpetuating the cycle.
Today I urge
everyone to work on this problem and take some practical actions towards
becoming agents of change.
To do this
we must first acknowledging the presence of Family violence in our community,
stop making excuses for the actions of men who are perpetuators ,and then lobby
for the strengthening of legislation and the improvement of the Judicial
system regarding violence. We must also challenge the Judicial system to
counter racism as it affects the handling of violence in the Black community,
and demand antiracist training for the Police, educators and members of the
medical profession with whom our families come in contact during their most
vulnerable situations.
We in the
Congress of Black Women of Canada need to set an example for others by
establishing meaningful dialogue and by being advocates for our Sisters in
this struggle.
Let us
strive to reclaim the well-being and dignity of our Black women and girls and
in doing so we will unwittingly be producing a more loving and respectful
generation of men.
Let us work
strategically on this problem in every chapter, moving together in sisterhood
as the members of an organization which is dedicated to improving the
well-being of Black women and their families.
In so doing
we will be keeping Kay Livingstone’s dream alive.
God Bless!