Report on rise in femicides across Canada renews calls for changes in Criminal Code | 24CA News

A brand new report on femicide in Canada exhibits a rise within the killing of girls and ladies from earlier than the pandemic, with one dying each two days.

The report by the Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability discovered that the variety of killings of girls and ladies involving male accused in Canada was up by 27 per cent in 2022 in contrast with earlier than the pandemic in 2019.

The report, which appears to be like on the variety of killings of girls and ladies from 2018 to 2022, confirmed that greater than 850 girls and ladies had misplaced their lives, primarily by the hands of males throughout this time, equaling one each two days.

The definition of femicide is the killing of a number of females as a result of they’re females.

“What is so sad for me is the number of women and girls who continue to be murdered in this country,” stated advocate Megan Walker.

“Every 46 hours, a woman or girl is murdered. Almost 200 women and girls were murdered over the last year — it was a record number at that point of women and girls killed as of the end of last year.”

The report exhibits that the variety of girls and ladies killed in 2022 was 184, up from 148 in 2019.

In June of final yr, Walker, vice chair of the London Police Service Board and former government director of the London Abused Women’s Centre, began a marketing campaign to get femicide added to the Criminal Code.

Walker, who has labored for over 35 years serving to females who’re victims of violence, stated it’s essential to have femicide acknowledged as a definite crime within the Criminal Code to assist girls impacted by violence.

“It’s incredibly important to have femicide in the Criminal Code and also defined. It would assist the criminal justice system and police officers, specifically in laying hate-motivated (charges). It would allow for a better understanding of what femicide is,” she stated.

In 2018, the Canadian Femicide Observatory additionally began the Call it Femicide marketing campaign to push for its acknowledgment.

The group reviews that “from a social, political, and legal standpoint, recognizing femicide as a distinct crime would increase public and professional recognition that the killing of a woman or a girl is often a clear expression of sex-or gender-motivated violence.”

Walker stated defining femicide might assist victims of male violence towards girls come ahead.

The report confirmed that in 83 per cent of circumstances, the accused killer was male.

“What I find most disappointing is that we have a year later still not really moved this issue forward in the way we would like to,” Walker stated.

“I worked throughout my career with a number of families whose daughters or sisters or parents had been murdered for no other reason except for perhaps they told the partner they were leaving them. It really is an issue that centres around the lives of women.”

Global News reached out to the Ministry of Justice for remark and didn’t hear again by publication.

Marci Ien, minister for ladies, gender equality and youth, stated the data within the report was welcomed and that session to incorporate femicide within the Criminal Code has begun.

“These are not just numbers — these are women and girls whose lives were forever changed by violence and abuse. This report is a reminder that gender-based violence (GBV) is a public health risk, a human rights violation and a national security concern that requires a response from every level of government,” Ien stated.

While Walker stated she and different advocates have spoken with employees from the Minister of Justice and Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, she stated they haven’t been capable of meet with the ministers in query to make progress.

“I don’t know what it’s going to take for them to move on this issue. It’s so disheartening,” Walker stated.

Ien acknowledged the rise in femicide throughout the pandemic, pointing to the $300 million the federal government dedicated to shelters, sexual assault centres and different organizations that present providers and assist.

Ien additionally notes that the federal and provincial governments are working collectively to implement the 10-year National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence all through Canada.

“In the Criminal Code, all forms of culpable homicide apply to all victims. Also, the sentencing provisions ensure that offenders of violence against women and girls receive sentences that are proportionate to the gravity of the offence,” Ien stated.

“This includes if the offence was motivated by bias, prejudice or hate based on sex or gender identity, expression, or evidence that the offender abused their intimate partner or a member of the victim’s or the offender’s family.”

&copy 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.