Insult to Injury!

This month is about denouncing Violence Against Women and Girls. The white ribbon campaign is near and dear to the hearts of many. At my school there are many events to promote bring awareness to the community, and let women and girls know where they can get help if they need it.

On the very first day of the campaign we had a guest speaker on campus- None other then the defence attorney for Robert Picton- Adrian Brooks. For those who might not know Picton was convicted of murdering 6 prostitutes, implicated in 20 more deaths and claims to have killed up to 49 victims-- all women. Picton said "I would have liked to make it 50 even but I got sloppy."

Picton's guilt was undeniable. DNA evidence sealed his fate; it was all technicalities at the trial. So there is no way Mr.Brooks can say that he had no prior knowledge of his client’s guilt. Picton's given rights state that he is entitled to due process- innocent till proven guilty-any attorney who represented
Picton would make history; this would be jewel in his crown. I respect the fact that from a legal standpoint his experience in this trial is definitely relevant. He participated in grim historical event, which will not be forgotten any time soon.
Unfortunately, for Mr.Brooks he is now guilty by association.

I found it in very poor taste for Mr.Brooks to speaking on the opening day of the white ribbon campaign. From a moral standpoint the mere fact alone that he defended Picton-whose trial was a mere formality- speaks volumes as the possible character of Mr.Brooks (this is my own thoughts). There were many other times that he could have come to talk- why that day of all days? Did the establishment not know that we- the students, the community; the women- would find that offensive?

It saddens me to see that the lives of these women are so blatantly overlooked - just so we could be graced with his presence----- lucky us …..

December is Domestic Violence Month~

I got flowers today.

It wasn't my birthday

or any other special day.

We had our first argument last night,

And he said a lot of cruel things

that really hurt me.

I know he is sorry

and didn't mean the things he said.

Because he sent me flowers today.

I got flowers today.

It wasn't our anniversary,

or any other special day.

Last night, he threw me into a wall

and started to choke me.

It seemed like a nightmare.

I couldn't believe it was real.

I woke up this morning sore and

bruised all over.

I know he must be sorry,

Because he sent me flowers today.

I got flowers today,

and it wasn't Mother's Day

or any other special day.

Last night, he beat me up again.

And it was much worse

than all the other times.

If I leave him,

what will I do?

How will I take care of my kids?

What about money?

I'm afraid of him and scared to leave.

But I know he must be sorry

Because he sent me flowers today.

I got flowers today.

Today was a very special day.

It was the day of my funeral.

Last night, he finally killed me.

He beat me to death.

If only I had gathered enough courage

and strength to leave him,

I would not have gotten flowers today.

~ Author Unknown ~

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Violence against women is a serious issue in Canada
Half of Canadian women (51%) have experienced at least one incident of physical or sexual violence since the age of 16.
Every minute of every day, a Canadian woman or child is being sexually assaulted.
One to two women are murdered by a current or former partner each week in Canada.
Spousal violence makes up the single largest category of convictions involving violent offences in non-specialized adult courts in Canada over the five-year period 1997/98 to 2001/02. Over 90% of offenders were male.
Thirty-six percent of female victims of spousal violence and less than 10% of victims of sexual assault reported these crimes to the police in 2004.

each year (factoring into account social services, criminal justice, lost employment days and health care interventions).
Violence against women occurs across all ethnic, racial, religious, age, social and economic groups. Some women are more vulnerable however, and are more likely to experience violence, including women with disabilities, geographically-isolated women, young women and Aboriginal women.
Women are more likely than men to be victims of the most severe forms of violence
Women experience higher rates than men of sexual assault, stalking, serious spousal assaults and spousal homicide.
In 2004, twice as many women than men were beaten by their partners and four times as many were choked.
Of the almost 34,000 victims of spousal violence reported in 2000, women accounted for the majority of victims (85%): a total of 28,633 victims.
Women are three times more likely than men to be physically injured by spousal violence and five times more likely to require medical attention.
Women are five times more likely to fear for their lives as a result of spousal violence: the violence or threat of violence was so severe that 38% of women feared for their lives compared with 7% of men.

Violence against women affects children
Every year in Canada, up to 360,000 children are exposed to domestic violence.
For children who are exposed to violence, consequences can include emotional trauma, depression, injury and permanent disability, as well as other physical, psychological and behavioural problems that can extend into adolescence and adulthood.
58,486 women and 36,840 children sought refuge in one of 473 shelters across Canada between April 1, 2003 and March 31, 2004.

((http://www.cdnwomen.org/EN/section05/3_5_1_1-violence_facts.html))

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