Call to action: declare Gender-based Violence an epidemic

GBV is pervasive in our province, with nearly 47% of women in BC experiencing some form of violence.

Sent to Premier David Eby on November 4, 2024
Written by Chantelle Spicer, BC Poverty Reduction Coalition

I am writing on behalf of the BC Poverty Reduction Coalition, comprised of 80+ member organizations working to reduce poverty, inequities, and homelessness across BC. Our policy platform, the Blueprint for Justice, includes many calls for equity for women and gender-diverse peoples to live a dignified and safe life.

In your election platform, you highlighted the importance of making BC safer and more inclusive for women, girls and 2SLGBTQIA+ people. As you form a new government, you have the opportunity to acknowledge the severity of gender-based violence and commit to preventing it. Declaring gender-based violence an epidemic would be a monumental step toward recognizing it as a public health issue that warrants a significant and meaningful response.

Gender-based violence is pervasive in our province, with nearly 30% of women experiencing physical or sexual intimate partner violence, according to Statistics Canada. That figure is much higher for Indigenous women in BC, reaching 42%. Even with those statistics, we know gender-based violence continues to be an underreported crime due to its complexity and stigma.

The most recently available data suggests that women in B.C. account for 25% of the “hidden homeless” — those who are under-housed and whose housing security depends on accepting precarious or dangerous conditions. Additionally, women and children who exit an abusive relationship are five times as likely to experience poverty when they leave. Poverty and violence work hand in hand — the economic freedom to access safe and stable housing options often means the freedom to leave abuse. As noted by data from the Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund, women and gender-diverse people who experience precarious housing or financial situations become more vulnerable to exploitation, as well as intimate and domestic violence.

Across Canada, at least one woman or girl is killed every two days, according to the Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability (CFOJA). Even so, femicide—which the UN describes as an intentional killing with a gender-related motivation—is not part of Canada’s criminal code. Data from CFOJA shows there were 21 femicides in BC in 2023. The year before that, 24 women were killed. But even one gender-motivated death is too many.

Declaring gender-based violence an epidemic will lead to increased public awareness, but more than that, it will demonstrate to survivors that your government recognizes the frequency and severity of the problem and is committed to taking steps towards its prevention.

Declaring gender-based violence an epidemic also acknowledges this critical issue requires a public health response. The negative effects of gender-based violence reach far beyond the individuals who directly experience them; it can have long-lasting and negative health, social and economic effects that span generations.

We know the provincial government has taken steps through Safe and Supported: BC’s Gender-Based Violence Action Plan and by appointing Kim Stanton to review the treatment of sexual violence and intimate partner violence in the province’s legal system. And nearly two years ago, Dr. Bonnie Henry identified eliminating gender-based violence as a “public health priority.” It’s now time to take that one step further.

To address the urgency of this issue, we ask that you include a declaration of gender-based violence as an epidemic in your upcoming ministry mandate letters. We know that governments and policymakers can have a lasting impact by choosing to invest in violence prevention, early intervention and survivor support services. As a coalition of advocates, experts and concerned service providers, we will present to your government additional recommendations for action to address gender-based violence.

We invite you to meet with us to discuss this issue in greater detail. By taking bold action today and declaring gender-based violence an epidemic, your government will demonstrate its commitment to improving the safety, health and overall well-being of women and gender-diverse people in our province. We urge you to make this vital commitment.