Around 100 Prince George residents gathered at the 30th annual Take Back the Night event to honour the women who lost their lives to gender-based violence and to celebrate those who have survived.
Residents brought signs that read statements bringing attention to violence against women such as “I stand with survivors, boys will be held accountable for their actions”, “We have the right to walk safely at night” and “Hold him accountable”.
Local women marched down the streets of Prince George chanting and hollering to raise awareness for the issue before taking a minute of silence at the Courthouse in honour of women who lost their lives.
It’s the events 30th year in Prince George,as attendees meet annually to raise awareness for violence against women. #CityOfPG pic.twitter.com/e9VfsmFkEY
— Francoise Dione (@dione_wearmouth) September 24, 2021
There were multiple speakers at the event, including Mayor Lyn Hall, who reminded attendees that violence against women happens everywhere and it’s not an issue just to one area of the city.
Lori Ann Armstrong, Member of the Take Back the Night Organizing Committee says along with honouring women who’ve suffered violence, attendees also walk to demand an end to gender-based violence across the world.
“We call it Take Back the Night because we see more assaults against women at night time, it’s harder for women to walk alone at night. We also hold the event in September because we do see an increase in domestic violence and other assaults in September, especially when people are going back to school,” she added.
According to the Canadian Women’s Foundation, Canadian women face a higher risk than men of experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault and harassment, and sex trafficking.
The Canadian Femicide for Justice and Accountability says approximately every six days, a woman in Canada is killed by her intimate partner, while Stats Canada reports women are four times more likely to be victims of intimate partner homicide than men.
Meanwhile, Indigenous women are killed at six times the rate of non-Indigenous women in Canada, according to the Canadian’s Women Foundation.
Armstrong says awareness of the issue is extremely important, especially in light of the pandemic.
“It’s really important to bring awareness around violence against women, that it’s an issue that we’re still fighting for changes for, especially with Covid like last year we did see a huge increase in domestic violence,” added Armstrong.
A local all-women drum circle also attended the march and drummed songs all throughout the night.
It’s the events 30th year in Prince George, and due to the pandemic, however, due to the pandemic, the event was virtual last year.
While all residents are invited to the event every year, only women and children participate in the walk.
92 women and girls killed, mostly by men, in the first half of 2021 in Canada.
For more information, see ? pic.twitter.com/gxU39ufH7m
— Canadian Femicide Observatory (@CAN_Femicide) July 19, 2021
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