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Paint Your Community Purple

This year Wear Purple on Monday , November 15th 2021

Put a purple light bulb or purple string lights on your front porch and/or in your windows.

Hang a Shine the Light on Woman Abuse Campaign Poster at your workplace

Use your voice to talk about ending men’s violence against women

Use the power of social media to show your support using the hashtag #ShineTheLight

Follow us on Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

Ask your city to turn local landmarks purple for the month of November

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Launching the 12th Shine the Light campaign tree-lighting illuminates London, Ont., for the month of November.

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Launching the 12th Shine the Light campaign tree-lighting illuminates London, Ont., for the month of November.

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The southwest corner of Victoria Park in London, Ont., is shining bright for the London Abused Women's Centre's 12th annual Shine the Light campaign on Monday night.

In support of the annual campaign, a tree at the southwest corner of Victoria Park will be lit purple for the month of November.

The tree stands as a symbol of hope and a visual sign to women and girls who are victims of gender-based violence. In front of the tree were cutouts of 15 women and girls from the London community who have been killed by gender-based violence.

"We have seen an increase in service demand for years and when the month of November comes around, we are increasing awareness the number of women reaching out for services tends to increase and that number tends to not go down," said Jennifer Dunn, executive director of LAWC.

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"What we are seeing in the community is not going away, so we need to continue having campaigns like this to be able to talk about it and raise awareness."

The purpose of the campaign is to shift the blame from women who feel it's their fault to the perpetrators of the abuse, Dunn said.

Over the last year, LAWC has reported a 45-per cent increase in women accessing their urgent supports.

Throughout the month of November, people are encouraged to wear purple and to put purple lights outside of their homes or businesses to show women and girls who are abused that they are not alone.

Dunn noted a number of buildings throughout London have already added purple lights to support the campaign, and that a lot of their purple merchandise had already been sold.

"The message is they are not alone and the community stands with them," she said.

Speaking at the event, London Police Chief Steve Williams noted that they have already responded to 6000 incidents of domestic violence.

"That is 6000 to many but we know the vast majority of domestic violence incidents are not reported," Williams said.

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"The priority of our police service is to stand with LAWC against men who abuse, exploit and assault women and girls for financial purposes, for sexual purposes, or for their own gain."

"We will come here every year until we no longer have to," Williams said.

One of two honourees of this year's Shine the Light campaign is Rebecca Amendola.

Amendola spoke at the tree lighting about being targeted and sexually abused by a pedophile when she was 14 years old and then later taking her rapist to court.

"Though all cases are unique, I am a statistic. I have several qualities that contribute to someone being more likely to experience abuse," Amendola said Monday night.

"I am a woman who I grew up in poverty with a dysfunctional home where I faced neglect, with multiple unstable father figures, with parents with minimal education. I was also molested before the age of six which made me the perfect target for a child predator during my adolescence, and ultimately resulting in six years of severe physical, sexual, and emotional abuse during that time."

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She was sexually abused for six years as a teen and later took her abuser to court and won, but notes the process was anything but easy.

She credits having a compassionate and understanding police officer and crown prosecutor who supported her but said that is not the case for many victims who come forward.

Amendola is advocating for changes in the way the legal system handles victims and more supports need to be put in place, including access to free counselling for survivors, victims, and perpetrators.

"Please keep in mind that abuse can happen in any setting, rich or poor, a stable family or not, so don't let someone's seemingly good circumstances allow you to ignore signs of abuse," Amendola said.

She is now studying social work in the hopes her story can help others in similar situations.

Nov. 15 is the annual day to wear purple in support of the campaign and Dunn said people are encouraged to share their pictures and videos in support of the camping to start a conversation about the abuse of women and girls.

Those wanting to find out more about supporting the LAWC can find all of the information on the LAWC website.

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If you or someone you know have experienced sexual or gender-based violence contact LAWC at 519-432-2204 or the Abused Women's Helpline at 519-642-3000.

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12th Shine the Light campaign tree-lighting illuminates London, Ont. - London | Globalnews.ca

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The southwest corner of Victoria Park in London, Ont., is shining bright for the London Abused Women's Centre's 12th annual Shine the Light campaign on Monday night. In support of the annual campaign, a tree at the southwest corner of Victoria Park will be lit purple for the month of November.

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Every six days, a woman in Canada is killed by her intimate partner. (Statistics Canada 2019)

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Every six days, a woman in Canada is killed by her intimate partner. (Statistics Canada 2019)

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Since it started, the organizers knew the importance of the campaign to create the conversation, and to talk about violence against women, to help raise awareness of men’s violence against women.

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2021 Shine the Light on Woman Abuse Campaign

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The campaign has been very effective as it has managed to spread from the city of London to other Canadian cities and on to other countries such as Sweden and Australia by 2017.

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Vision:
To eradicate patriarchy on local and global levels freeing women and girls from oppression.

Mission Statement:
To take systemic action to end the oppression of women while providing women and girls subjected to male violence with counselling, advocacy, and support.

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November 15th is designated as “Wear Purple Day”.  Wear purple to show your support to abused women and girls and bring attention to the issue of men’s violence against women. Take a photo or short video of how you are going purple and share on your favourite social media platform by using the hashtag #ShinetheLight and tag us at @endwomanabuse.

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It’s increasingly evident, that many governments are not keeping the promises enshrined in the laws. The potential of laws to help eliminate VAWG is going unrealized because implementation is failing. And governments are failing women and girls as a result.
Why these laws are not being effectively put into practice?
Insufficient training, problematic social norms, claims about lack of financial resources, to inadequate involvement of women’s rights organizations."

Oxfam Canada. (2017, March 4). When laws to end violence exist only on paper, governments fail women and girls - Oxfam Canada [Photograph].

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When laws to end violence exist only on paper, governments fail women and girls - Oxfam Canada

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Getting laws on paper is one critical step in global efforts to address violence against women and girls, but we must also ensure governments live up to their obligations.

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When laws to end violence exist only on paper, governments fail women and girls

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SONGS OF INSPIRATION AND EMPOWERMENT FOR WOMEN WHO HAVE FACED ABUSE

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SONGS OF INSPIRATION AND EMPOWERMENT FOR WOMEN WHO HAVE FACED ABUSE

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As an advocate for women's rights and a survivor of domestic abuse, I know of similar campaigns (the White Ribbon Campaign, Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, #Metoo, and the Clothesline Project to name a few)but did not know of Shine the Light on Woman Abuse until recently.
While reading about the sexual assaults at Western University that happened in September 2021, an article had mentioned The Shine Light on Woman Abuse campaign so I then decided to investigate it.

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LONDON, Ont. - Police in London, Ont., are investigating allegations made online about recent sexual assaults at Western University.

The London Police Service says it's aware of "information circulating on social media" about the alleged assaults at the school's Medway-Sydenham Hall over the weekend.

The police force says it hasn't received any formal reports from the weekend but is opening an investigation "given the seriousness of the allegations."

It also notes police received two reports the week before about sexual assaults alleged to have happened elsewhere on campus.

Police say they are investigating those reports and will probe any possible links to other incidents that haven't been reported.

They're encouraging people to report sexual violence to help the investigations.

On Sunday the university said it had increased security on campus and in student residences following reports of sexual violence.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2021.

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London police investigating alleged sex assaults at Western University

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LONDON, Ont. - Police in London, Ont., are investigating allegations made online about recent sexual assaults at Western University. The London Police Service says it's aware of "information circulating on social media" about the alleged assaults at the school's Medway-Sydenham Hall over the weekend.

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“The earlier we can start to educate people on the issue of women abuse and inequality, the better.Talking and sharing are great, but action is the best. Taking action is the very best thing you can do. So that means you reach out to a person, help a person to get access to the service that she needs.”

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“The need right now is tremendous, the pandemic has had a tremendous impact on women. Our numbers for service rose in the first couple of months of COVID by 54 percent for urgent support services. At the same time, fundraising dollars went down.” Fabienne Haller, LAWC.

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The Shine the Light on Women Abuse campaign is not meant to be a fundraiser. 

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The Shine the Light on Women Abuse campaign is not meant to be a fundraiser. 

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The centre received $128,509 in donations during the 2018 campaign.

This year, Shoppers Drug Mart Foundation is trying to raise $2.4 million to help victims of domestic violence. The money raised will go directly to helping women with front-line counselling services at LAWC.

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RAISE THE NUMBER OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS that provide help and advocate for abused women.

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STAND IN SOLIDARITY with abused women and support in the understanding that there should be no shame or blame put on the victim but on the perpetrator.

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RAISE AWARENESS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND THE STATISTICS involving Canadian women. Raise awareness of the different types of abuse and community services in place to help.

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The Shine the Light on Woman Abuse campaign

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The Shine the Light on Woman Abuse campaign

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A registered trademarked public awareness campaign launched by the London Abused Women’s Centre in 2010.

Each year the campaign honours two women who are either survivors of violence against women or victims who have lost their lives.

During the month of November buildings throughout the City are lit up with purple in support of the campaign.

On Nov. 1 tree lighting will happen on the corner of Clarence Street and Dufferin Avenue, where a tree in Victoria Park will be lit purple.

Nov. 15 is the day to wear purple in support of the campaign and people are encouraged to share their pictures and videos in support of the camping.

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"Purple is more than just a colour, it's a call to action – a way to draw attention to violence against women. It represents courage, bravery and resilience"

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Amend the name of the campaign

Lobby the provincial government to create and enact family violence or gender-based violence specific legislation

Stand up against violence when you see or experience it and don't be afraid to report perpetrators

Have more government collaborations with women rights organizations

Create stricter punishments to deter violators

Increased capacity of mental health and addiction workers to safety plan and appropriately refer abused women

Development of new screening tools to identify woman abuse/sexual assault/trauma

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Unpaid work or minimum wage work, lack of affordable childcare, wage gap, stagnation or drop in income after birth of a child deny women financial stability and autonomy (Canadian Women's Foundation, 2021).

More than 1.5 million women in Canada live in poverty (Canadian Women's Foundation, 2021).

91% of women that have been homeless in Canada have experienced assault (Canadian Observatory on Homelessness, 2020).

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Ontario does not have any provincial legislation that refers specifically to family violence but has legislation that specifically refers to the protection of the child (Government of Canada, 2021).

United States has national legislation that pertains to violence against women (NNEDV, 2017).

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"So thanks for making me a fighter..Made me learn a little bit faster..Made my skin a little bit thicker"

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"Cause I can make it on my own, oh
And I don't need you, I found a strength I've never known"

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"You can try to break me down, I'll keep rising from the ground like a skyscraper!"

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"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stand a little taller"