“Women need us to stand up for them now more than ever!”
Carol Hughes, MP for Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing spoke in the House of Commons to address the urgent issue of intimate partner violence.
“Last week, Canadians were collectively heartbroken by the barbaric act of intimate partner violence that took the life of Angie Sweeney and three young children in Sault Ste. Marie,” said Hughes. “As we grieve for Angie and the children, we must redouble our efforts against intimate partner violence.”
Hughes called on Members of Parliament to implement the recommendations from last Parliament’s Justice Committee report on stopping coercive and controlling behaviour in intimate partner relationships. She further highlighted that the rates of intimate partner violence have been increasing for a number of years.
“Gender based & Intimate partner violence in Canada has increased for five consecutive years,” said Hughes. “In 2021, the rate of IPV was 336 victims per 100,000 people. Women and girls represent almost seventy percent of victims (of IPV). Gender-related homicide rate in 2021 for Indigenous women and girls was more than triple the rate of gender-related homicides overall.”
“This epidemic cannot continue!”
