This International Women’s Day, Regina Transition House is highlighting the epidemic of domestic violence in Saskatchewan, by bringing awareness to the problem and asking Saskatchewan residents to #ChangetheStory.
Regina, March 8, 2018-Regina Transition House is launching their #ChangetheStory campaign in support of eliminating domestic violence in Saskatchewan communities. Regina Transition House cannot do it alone, so they are launching an awareness campaign starting on International Women’s Day, (March 8th) which “(…) has grown to become a global day of recognition of women's achievements and a call to action to support women's rights and advance gender equality” (Status of Women Canada, February 14, 2018). One of the largest and most persistent threats to women’s equality is violence against women.
Over the past two years, Regina Transition House is seeing a steady increase in the number of women and children coming into the shelter, with 90% of those first being placed on a waitlist. “The increase in demand for our shelter services is a serious concern for our province, as it is indicative of a trend that more women are experiencing intimate partner violence,” says Stephanie Taylor, Executive Director of the Regina Transition House. Saskatchewan currently has the highest rate of reported incidents of domestic violence in the country.
Regina Transition House is determined to fight this trend by offering programs to reduce intergenerational violence experienced by the families that they help this year. The strategy is to address the root causes by offering on-site counselling, cultural and spiritual programming, and education and outreach for children who have been exposed to family violence.
In order to #ChangetheStory in Saskatchewan, people need to educate themselves about intimate partner violence and find ways to prevent it by reaching out to those who may be at risk. Regina Transition House hopes that by raising awareness about the impact of domestic violence, and highlighting the important work being done by their shelter, and many others in the province, all communities will work to prevent violence and increase understanding and support.
Regina Transition House has been committed to ensuring that Women and Children Live Violence Free for over 40 years. It is this mission that drives the work at their 24/7 Crisis Line, emergency safe shelter, and outreach services for women and children leaving situations of intimate partner violence, family conflict, and community violence. For media inquiries, contact Stephanie Taylor, Executive Director, Regina Transition House, 306-337-2812 or ed@reginatransitionhouse.ca.