FACE TO FACE WITH INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE

Family and intimate partner violence (FIPV) is any type of controlling or threatening behaviour, physical or sexual violence or abuse between intimate partners or family members.

In 2019, police in Peel responded to more than 19,000 incidents of domestic violence. On average, that’s 50 disputes every day or two each hour. These numbers are just what gets reported; most incidents are not reported.

It remains one of the most pressing issues for Peel Regional Police. In 2019, over 40 per cent of Peel’s homicides were familial or intimate partner-related. These incidents are of paramount concern for the Region of Peel and Peel Regional Police as the COVID-19 pandemic creates another challenging layer for survivors who become further isolated and may find it increasingly difficult to access care or intervention.

Brampton joined its partners to launch a public awareness campaign, It’s Not Okay, to raise visibility and awareness about FIPV and to help identify and reduce cases in the community.

The City’s partners include the Region of Peel who led the development of the campaign, along with the City of Mississauga, Town of Caledon, Peel Regional Police, Ontario Provincial Police, and more than 10 community organizations.

On January 29, 2020, Brampton Council passed a motion directing staff to collaborate with partners to establish a public education and awareness campaign to end domestic violence in Brampton and Peel Region. Since that time, partners have worked together to develop an inclusive and engaging campaign to shed light on this important issue.

Residents who need support, or know someone who does, can confidentially call toll-free: 211, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In an emergency, residents are advised to call the police at 911.

“Family and intimate partner violence affects people of all ages, from all backgrounds,” said Brampton mayor Patrick Brown.

“The prevalence of domestic violence is a tragic reality for far too many in Peel,” said regional councillor Rowena Santo. “It has no colour and crosses all economic lines. With this public awareness campaign, we are taking the issue of domestic violence out of the shadows.

“One of our first steps is to raise awareness and face this problem collectively as a community, so victims can feel empowered to seek the support they need. A safe community must fundamentally include women and children feeling safe in the place they live.”

David Barrick, chief administrative officer, City of Brampton, said, “We all have one common goal – to make Brampton the best it can be, and that includes a focus on community safety, improving mental health support, and encouraging active and healthy lifestyles as part of our Healthy and Safe City Term of Council priority. This campaign demonstrates our commitment to helping all members of our community feel safe in our City.”

To learn more about family and intimate partner violence in Peel, including statistics, resources and campaign materials, visit peelregion.ca/ItsNotOkay