Statement on Femicide that took place in London, Ontario
With profound sadness and heavy hearts, we share that a femicide took place in London this past Friday. Femicide describes the intentional killing of women, girls and other gender-diverse individuals by men. In 2020 in Ontario, every 9 days a woman or child was killed in a femicide. The most common perpetrators are either the woman’s current or former intimate partner, a family member, or someone known to them. Gender-based violence has been called the shadow pandemic that has escalated with COVID-19. Few people realize how widespread the problem is because the stories rarely receive more than local attention. Please take a moment to pause and reflect on our shared loss. For every femicide, there are more survivors who are not safe in their homes, workplaces and communities. Anova is committed to working towards a future without violence. If you or someone you know needs help, please call our 24-Hour Crisis & Support Line: 519-642-3000.