It was a unanimous vote at Niagara Regional council, it heard of women living in constant fear
A unanimous vote at Niagara Regional council to declare intimate partner violence an epidemic.
Brock University professor Robyn Bourgeois says a study of the Niagara region found demand for services for people in need of help far exceeded what is available.
She adds people won't get the help. "But, also the people who are delivering that support, don't have the resources they need... and we heard stories, multiple stories, or people wanting to leave, or getting burnt out, and not wanting to do this work anymore."
Councillor Laura Ip pointed to the United Nations, which indicated violence against women and girls as the world's longest, deadliest pandemic. T
There was also more gut-wrenching reality of intimate partner violence from the Executive Director of Gillian's Place in St. Catharines.
Nicole Regehr said some women live in constant fear, and don't get help for fear of making the situation worse.
She opened up about some of her 10-year abusive marriage. "I went into early high risk labour and delivery, after a particularly severe physical attack when I was 33 weeks pregnant. I constantly feared for my life during the relationship and after it ended. Many do not realize that victims are at the highest risk of lethality after they have left."
There was also a call for the province to do more.
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