Networked Knowledge - Media Report

[This edited version of the report has been prepared by Dr Robert N Moles]

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On 12 February 2008 Peggy Flanagan wrote in the Kingston Whig Standard “Let's end the war against women”.

She said a United Nations report estimates that, on average world- wide, three million women and girls are murdered every year, and at least 113 million women are "missing." This is gendercide. In Brazil, and in many other countries, we hear of so-called "honour" killings, in which women and girls are killed by relatives because they have supposedly dishonoured their family. What can possibly be honourable about killing a defenceless woman, especially a woman whom a man has promised to love and protect, for better or for worse? In Canada, domestic murders are sometimes honour killings by another name, such as a "crime of passion."

So-called honour killings are contrary to every religion and culture, but how often do we hear the leaders of any political stripe or of any religion speak out and condemn violence against women? The silence is deafening. In some parts of the world, females can't own property. In many parts of the world, they are property. In some places, they can't vote or be voted for. In many places, they can't be seen on the streets alone. In most places, they aren't educated. In too many places, they are tucked away out of sight, clearly wedded to the house rather than the man, kept in silence and domestic servitude. Women and children are still the muted, uncounted and unseen victims of war. In more places than we like to think, their bodies have become the instruments of war. In more places than we are willing to admit, they are being beaten regularly in their own homes, sold into sexual slavery and left financially destitute after widowhood or divorce. But not in Canada, eh?

Those who think women are free from violence in Canada have very poor memories, or perhaps have skipped over news reports concerning this issue in our daily newspapers. Statistics Canada reports that more than 60 women are killed in Canada each year by their partners. In Ontario, police report that, on average, 28 women are killed by their partners each year. Let us not forget that every year in Canada, up to 360,000 children are exposed to domestic violence, resulting in psychological and behavioural problems that can extend into adolescence and adulthood. They live in a domestic war zone.

Yes, it is true that men also are victims of violence, but most serious violence against men is perpetrated by other men, not by women. Of the almost 34,000 victims of spousal violence reported in the year 2000, women accounted for 85 per cent of the victims. The Domestic Violence Death Review Committee reported in 2004 that women were the main victims in all cases, and 91 per cent of the perpetrators were men. Kingston has its own share of victims of relationship violence. This past November, in City Hall's Memorial Hall, two male police officers facilitated a day entitled "Relationship Terrorism" to a packed audience. Both men were experienced in dealing with domestic violence, and they made those of us attending realize that we are all affected by such violence and we all must help implement changes in the attitudes that allow this abuse to continue. What does all this mean?

I think it means that the solution to this problem must involve more men. Most men do treat women as equals, and more men, especially in law enforcement and in some religious circles, are getting involved in confronting other men who do not. Still, we have a worldwide war against women that is largely being ignored, and this must not be allowed to continue. The diminished condition of women in both church and state everywhere around the world is proof that much more must be done. An outspoken act on the part of any respected man on behalf of women is a sign of hope to us all. If the full human development of both men and women is ever to finally succeed, the movement will need the leadership of men of conscience, as well as women of courage.

In 1998, the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul, a religious congregation founded 145 years ago in Kingston, committed its members to take concrete actions to eradicate violence, especially against women, in collaboration with both men and women, by raising awareness of violence and its underlying causes. We made a 10-year commitment to host a series of biannual conferences focused on healing violence against women. We plan to culminate the work we have done over the past eight years by offering a two-day conference on March 4-5, during International Women's Week. This conference will commence with an inspirational address by Sally Armstrong, an Amnesty International award winner, a member of the Order of Canada, a documentary filmmaker, a teacher, an author and a human rights activist. Her keynote address will be followed by workshops addressing specific areas of gender violence and outlining positive steps being made toward prevention, eradication and healing. It is designed to call us all - women and men - out of the shadows of powerlessness and denial into the light and power of love in action.

Peggy Flanagan is a member of the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul and a former member of The Whig-Standard's Community Editorial Board.

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