The Prince Edward Island Advisory Council on the Status of Women is coordinating the 8th Annual PEI Purple Ribbon Campaign Against Violence. The Campaign commemorates the 14 women who died in the Montreal Massacre on December 6th, 1989, ten years ago, and raises awareness about violence against women and children on PEI.
Honourable Pat Mella, Provincial Treasurer and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women endorses the annual campaign: "The murders in Montreal are a haunting, tragic reminder of vitalities lost in all violent relationships. Until women are safe in our schools, homes, communities and workplaces, we each have an obligation to raise awareness on prevention of violence and to work on safety for all.
Once again, the Advisory Council has expanded this year's campaign through the support of the Premier's Action Committee on Family Violence Prevention, distributing 9,000 purple ribbons to Islanders, including 3,000 to Island civil servants.
Islanders are urged to wear a purple ribbon during the week up to December 6th to help raise the level of awareness of acts of violence, perpetrated against women and children, not only in PEI but throughout the world.
The Advisory Council asks that Islanders wear the purple ribbons and also make a donation to an organization in their community that is working to end violence against women and children.
"On the tenth anniversary of the Montreal Massacre, we are reminded of the horror of violence that so many women and children endure on a daily basis," says Sharon O'Brien,Chairperson of the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women. "We need to acknowledge the violence that is happening in our own communities and take a stand against it."
In PEI, between April 1998 and March 1999, a total of 958 women and children used support services through Transition House Association (THA) - 321 accessed THA support services in East Prince; 272 in West Prince; 78 in Eastern PEI; 169 at Anderson House in Charlottetown; and 118 for Queen's County Outreach.
"The Advisory Council sees that there is still much work to be done to end violence against women and children," says O'Brien. The campaign theme is: FIRSTMOURN, THEN WORK FOR CHANGE."
The ribbons are available at the PEI Advisory Council office, Women's Network PEI, the UPEI Women's Centre, L'Association des Acadiennes in Wellington, East Prince Women's Information Centre in Summerside and at local Regional Services Centres.
For more information contact: Heidi Rankin, Communications, PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women, (902) 368-4510