Latest news with #genderBasedViolence
CTV News
08-07-2025
- CTV News
Ottawa police see 9% increase in intimate partner violence reports so far this year
The Ottawa Police Service says it has seen an increase in reports of intimate partner violence so far this year compared to the first half of 2024. Police told CTV News Ottawa it received a total of 3,580 intimate partner-related reports in the first six months of 2025 over 3,257 reports from January to June of 2024, amounting to a nine per cent increase. In a news release Monday, police said the most prevalent offences so far this year included, assault, breaches, harassing communications, assault with a weapon and uttering threats. The majority of victims identified as female (80.6 per cent) while 18.6 per cent identified as male. Fifty per cent of cases involved people between the ages of 30 and 45, police said. Just under five per cent of cases were younger than 18-years-old. Reports of intimate partner violence have consistently increased since 2021, police said last year. A total of 6,636 incidents resulted in 3,355 charges in all of 2024. In 2023, there were 6,547 incidents reported and 3,820 charges laid. 'If you are experiencing intimate partner violence, please know that help is available, and there are people who care and want to support you. No one deserves to be harmed, controlled, or made to feel afraid,' police said Monday. In January, police announced it would release both annual and semi-annual statistics on intimate partner violence as part of a wider plan to prioritize tackling gender-based violence and violence against women. This is the first semi-annual report it has released. The service hired 'risk navigators' in 2023 and 2024 to assist victims of intimate partner violence who contact police. Police also brought in a new police dog this year specially trained to support victims and provide emotional support. It became the first police force in the country to describe the killing of a woman or girl by a man as a femicide in 2024. So far this year, there have been four femicides in the city of Ottawa, exceeding last year's total. Intimate partner violence statistics so far this year: By age group: 4.8% were under 18 yrs old 29.3% were between the ages of 18 and 29 50% were between the ages of 30 and 45 12.4% were between the ages of 46 and 60 3.4% were over the age of 60 By gender: 80.6% identified as female 18.6% identified as male With files from CTV News Ottawa's Ted Raymond
Zawya
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Talks in Gogrial West reveal need for awareness-raising on right to protection
Many residents of Gogrial West County are unaware of their fundamental right to be protected, often silently enduring violence, theft, or domestic abuse. Despite being a relatively peaceful part of Warrap State, people living here are sometimes subject to conflicts and their consequences, crime, risks related to climate change and, last but not least, the frequent incidents of domestic violence mostly suffered by women and girls. "They, like everyone else, have the right to live safely and with dignity," stated Bakhita Burke, Gender-Based Violence Coordinator at Women for Change, a women-led non-governmental organization, adding that a lack of tangible conflict is no guarantee of peace on the home front. 'Behind closed doors, many women continue to suffer,' she said, remarking that recent months have seen a concerning increase of suicides related to physical abuse. Ms. Burke and some other 50 invited guests, including political and community leaders, survivors of violence and other stakeholders, discussed a variety of topics, all related to advocacy for human rights, at a workshop in Kuajok facilitated by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). Another such issue is cattle raiding and the profound distress this harmful and unlawful practice causes. Alongside gender-based violence, cattle theft emerged as another significant issue during discussions. Daniel Mangar, Executive Director for Gogrial West County, elaborated on the profound economic and emotional distress caused by these incidents. "These thefts may seem minor to outsiders, but they create fear, tensions and financial losses for anyone affected,' commented Mariang Martin Agoth, Executive Director of the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, highlighting the importance of partnerships. "Humanitarians step in precisely where government resources fall short, trying to make sure that displaced families and other vulnerable community members are not forgotten." Lucy Okello, a Protection, Transition&Reintegration Officer serving with UNMISS, reflected on the bigger picture and the people of South Sudan the peacekeeping mission is here to serve. 'Each statistic we discuss represents real families, facing real and severe hardship. Our talk today must be translated into actions tomorrow.' Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
OPINION: Intimate partner violence is not a women's issue – where are the men?
On June 6, 2025, the Ontario government rejected a unanimous consent motion to officially declare intimate partner violence an 'epidemic'— even as it resurrected a committee to study the issue. Premier Doug Ford's government has not explained its position, nor offered a path forward to effectively address the issue. The silence is not just disappointing, it's dangerous. Failing to name the crisis prevents us from confronting it with the urgency it demands. Every 48 hours, a woman in Canada is killed by her partner. This isn't rhetoric — it's reality. In December 2024, a 23-year-old woman thought she was safe after leaving her abusive ex. But he returned, forced her into a car and drove it into the freezing Richelieu River before swimming away. She survived, but many aren't as lucky. Prominent journalist Sally Armstrong's provocative question: 'Where are the men?' strikes at the heart of the issue. IPV is too often labelled a 'women's issue,' placing responsibility on victims rather than addressing the root cause: Violence enacted by men. Women cannot end IPV alone. Declaring IPV an epidemic isn't semantic; it's a public health approach that frames violence as systemic, societal and preventable. In 2022, Canada's federal government launched a 10-year National Action Plan on Gender-Based Violence, focused on prevention, survivors, justice, community-led solutions and social support. Ontario received $162 million in federal funding and pledged $1.4 billion over four years, with programs ranging from IPV-focused training for judges and education for high school coaches to promote healthy relationships among male athletes. At the municipal level, Toronto has declared IPV an epidemic, building on programs like the IPV Action Plan and SafeTO's Community Safety and Well-Being Plan, but the action remains fragmented and under-resourced. Each day, about 699 women and 236 children in Canada are denied access to domestic violence shelters. This crisis forces survivors into an impossible choice – returning to their abuser or facing homelessness. The lack of immediate options underscores the urgent need for increased investment in shelter capacity and survivor support. No one should endure further harm because they have nowhere to go. IPV is rooted in power dynamics among men. Until men, especially those in leadership, speak up and act, change is stalled. We need men to be unequivocal: IPV is unacceptable and silence is complicity. Just as Bell's Let's Talk campaign shifted the conversation on mental health, corporations can lead public education efforts and business leaders can use their platforms to drive cultural change. We also need faith leaders to challenge harmful norms in their congregations and sports organizations to adopt respect and consent as foundational values. As immediate next steps, we must: • Declare IPV an epidemic in Ontario and across Canada to reflect its scale and urgency; • Embed comprehensive education on respect, consent and intervention in schools, universities and workplaces; • Expand shelter capacity with sustained funding so that when survivors seek help, no one is turned away; • Define clear metrics, timelines and public reporting across all levels of government; • Launch targeted public education campaigns that engage men as active allies and leaders. It's impossible to ignore the growing crisis of IPV. In the past three months, six women in the Maritimes have been killed. The tragic deaths of these women — mothers, daughters, and friends — underscore the deadly consequences of inaction. Their deaths are a direct result of warning signs being ignored, systems failing to intervene and a lack of comprehensive support for survivors. We can no longer afford to wait for another tragedy to mobilize us. If we are serious about ending IPV, we must hold ourselves and each other accountable. The time for change is now. Corporate Canada must step up.
News24
30-06-2025
- News24
Limpopo man charged with killing, mutilating his elderly mother
Lesiba David Ledwaba appeared in the Seshego Magistrate's Court for the gruesome murder of his 87-year-old mother, whose dismembered body was found in their home. A concerned neighbour reported the elderly woman's disappearance, leading police to discover body parts in plastic buckets. The provincial police commissioner condemned the act, calling for unity in addressing the pandemic of gender-based violence. A 40-year-old man is accused of killing his 87-year-old mother, dismembering her body, and placing the parts into plastic buckets at their home in Sebora Village, Ga-Mashashane, Limpopo. Police discovered the crime scene on Saturday after a concerned neighbour contacted them, saying that the elderly woman had not been seen for over two days. Police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said officers immediately visited the home. Ledwaba said: Upon investigation, they were met by a very disturbing scene, where they discovered the woman's dismembered body parts placed inside the plastic buckets. 'Several items that were allegedly used in the commission of the crime were also found at the scene.' He said the woman's son, 40-year-old Lesiba David Ledwaba, was arrested the same day after failing to provide a satisfactory explanation of what happened. 'The motive behind this senseless murder is currently being investigated by the police,' he said. Ledwaba appeared in the Seshego Magistrate's Court on Monday, where the case was postponed until 9 July for a bail application. Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Thembi Hadebe condemned the murder. 'The scourge of gender-based violence has reached crisis point. This pandemic needs all sectors of society to join hands with the police and confront this demon that continues to terrorise communities. Enough is enough,' Hadebe said.
The Independent
30-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
MLAs raise concerns over violence against women after Sarah Montgomery murder
The epidemic of violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland is worsening, the Assembly has been told. A number of MLAs raised concerns over gender-based violence as police continue to question a 28-year-old man over the murder of pregnant mother-of-two Sarah Montgomery. The 27-year-old died at a house in Donaghadee in Co Down at the weekend. The Assembly was told she was the 27th adult woman to be killed in Northern Ireland since 2020. SDLP MLA Cara Hunter said the death of Ms Montgomery was an 'unspeakable act of violence which has robbed her children of their mother and shattered a family forever'. She added: 'There is no grief more profound than that of a child torn from the love, safety and care of their mother. 'Their lives undoubtedly changed forever.' Ms Hunter said: 'This is not an isolated incident. It is part of a worsening epidemic of violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland. 'We are failing women, we are failing children and we are failing to meet this crisis with sufficient urgency, co-ordination and political will that it so greatly requires. 'Too many women in our communities live in fear, fear in their homes, fear on the streets and fear in their relationships. 'This fear is not imagined. It is real and it is justified.' DUP North Down MLA Stephen Dunne described the death of Ms Montgomery as 'devastating'. He added:'Sarah is the 27th adult woman to be killed in Northern Ireland since 2020. 'The majority of these woman have been killed in their own homes, which is a truly shocking and devastating figure. 'A home should be a place of refuge and safety, but sadly that is not always the case. 'Again, it highlights the need for tougher sentencing as well, when we see so many lives ended and totally devastated and shattered with this ongoing scourge of our society of violence against women and girls.' He added: 'Donaghadee is a very close-knit and caring community and I know the community there is already rallying around the family of Sarah Montgomery. 'There is a real sense of shock and sadness and alarm around the devastating events at the weekend.' Alliance Party MLA Connie Egan described the death of Ms Montgomery as an 'absolutely tragic loss'. She said: 'My thoughts first and foremost are with Sarah's loved ones, her family and, of course, her two little children who have to grow up without their mummy. 'Sarah was also pregnant at the time she was killed. 'This is an absolutely horrendous and tragic loss and I know the people in Donaghadee are shocked. 'Tributes left outside her home describe Sarah as a beautiful, kind and wonderful mother.' She added: 'Sarah was the 27th woman to have been killed in Northern Ireland since 2020. 'Our rates of violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland are shockingly high and it is completely unacceptable.' A 28-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in police custody. Detective Chief Inspector Tom Phillips said that police received a report at about 2.15pm on Saturday of an unconscious woman with a serious injury inside a house in the Elmfield Walk area of Donaghadee. 'Officers attended, alongside colleagues from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, who provided medical treatment at the scene,' he added. Ms Montgomery was pronounced dead at the scene.
