The Huron County Community Safety and Well-Being Committee has launched a new social media campaign to raise awareness about Intimate Partner Violence.
This campaign is part of the county’s safety plan established in 2021, and will offer information, education, and support for all community members, including those affected by Intimate Partner Violence.
Corey Allison, Executive Director of the Huron Womens Shelter Second Stage Housing and Counseling Services says one way or another, intimate partner violence effects everyone and can affect the victim in different ways rather than just physical abuse.
With 765 Intimate Partner Violence related occurrences in 2023, the campaign aims to lower these numbers and encourage survivors to seek help.
Allison hopes this campaign can help lower that number down to zero by teaching people to recognize the signs before disaster strikes.
More than 90 municipalities in Ontario have identified IPV as an epidemic. From 2020 to 2023, Femicide rates surged by 68% in the province. Women living in rural areas are 2.5 times more susceptible to being killed compared to those in urban settings.
The social media campaign is intended to raise awareness about IPV, it’s also a sign to survivors that they are heard. The goal is for anyone and everyone to feel safe asking for help in Huron County, and for the first time in a while Allison has hope that it can be done.
The campaign also provides a free one-hour online training session. The session is tailored to assist neighbors, friends, and families in identifying the risks of IPV. They will also learn how to respond effectively and refer individuals to the right services available in Huron County.
The campaign officially kicked off on April 1st.
Written by: K. Milhomens
