Brampton joins partners across Region of Peel to raise awareness about Family and Intimate Partner Violence

The Voice of Canada News:

In recognition of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, Brampton has joined its partners to launch a public awareness campaign to raise visibility and awareness about the issue of Family and Intimate Partner Violence (FIPV) and to help identify and reduce cases in the community.

The City’s partners include the Region of Peel who led the development of the campaign, along with the City of Mississauga, Town of Caledon, Peel Regional Police, Ontario Provincial Police, and more than 10 community organizations.

On January 29, 2020, Brampton Council passed a motion directing staff to collaborate with partners to establish a public education and awareness campaign to end domestic violence in Brampton and Peel Region. Since that time, partners have worked together to develop an inclusive and engaging campaign to shed light on this important issue.

FIPV is any type of controlling or threatening behavior, physical or sexual violence or abuse between intimate partners or family members. In 2019, police in Peel responded to more than 19,000 incidents of domestic violence. On average, that’s 50 disputes every day or two each hour. These numbers are just what gets reported; most incidents are not reported.

Residents who need support, or know someone who does, can confidentially call toll-free: 211, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In an emergency, residents are advised to call the police at 911.

To learn more about Family and Intimate Partner Violence in Peel, including statistics, resources and campaign materials, visit peelregion.ca/ItsNotOkay

Quotes

“Family and Intimate Partner Violence affects people of all ages, from all backgrounds. The City of Brampton is committed to creating a healthy and safe community, and this campaign will help shed light on this important issue and raise awareness about where people can seek help, whether they need help themselves or know someone who does.”-  Patrick Brown, Mayor, City of BramptonPatrick Brown, Mayor, City of Brampton

“The prevalence of domestic violence is a tragic reality for far too many in Peel. It has no color and crosses all economic lines. With this public awareness campaign, we are taking the issue of domestic violence out of the shadows. One of our first steps is to raise awareness and face this problem collectively as a community, so victims can feel empowered to seek the support they need. A safe community must fundamentally include women and children feeling safe in the place they live.”- Rowena Santos, Regional Councillor, Wards 1 & 5, City of Brampton

“We all have one common goal – to make Brampton the best it can be, and that includes a focus on community safety, improving mental health support, and encouraging active and healthy lifestyles as part of our Healthy and Safe City Term of Council priority. This campaign demonstrates our commitment to helping all members of our community feel safe in our City.”-  David Barrick, Chief Administrative Officer, City of Brampton