The Zonta Club of Sault Ste. Marie Area is joining an international campaign aiming to inspire action to end violence against women and girls.
Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women as designated by the United Nations.
Thirty-five percent of women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence.
The Zonta Club has set up a display at the Northern Community Centre Arena recognizing the effect that gender-based violence has on our communities.
“This powerful and emotional display [is] of 62 pairs of shoes representing the 62 women and children in Ontario who died as a result of gender-based violence in one year,” said Jane Vienneau, president of the local club.
“The shoes have been painted a bright orange which is the colour chosen by the United Nations to symbolize a brighter future free from violence and demonstrate global activism to fight this crime.”
Vienneau says six of those pairs of shoes represent three women and three children who were murdered in our community.
She added there are other stories about women who face abuse that don’t get reported.
“Women in Crisis (Algoma) reports that 160 individuals accessed emergency shelter services this year,” she stated.
“The number 3,508 represents the number of times telephone and/or walk-in support and crisis services were accessed so far this year.”
There are also "Zonta Says No to Violence" graphics on a city bus along with awareness signs at other locations, including Copper Bean Café in Bruce Mines, the Black Bear Café on St. Joseph Island, the Station Mall, Algoma University library, Sault College library and the Sault Ste. Marie Airport.
The display at the community centre will remain up for 16 Days of Activism, until UN Human Rights Day on Dec. 10.