Yellowknife (Oct 08/03) - Family Violence Awareness Week was officially launched Monday, and the YWCA is making an impact.

Megan Martens takes a moment to reflect on statistics posted by the YWCA concerning spousal abuse in the North. - Colleen Moore/NNSL photo

A life-size silhouette display of 22 women from the NWT and Nunavut, who have lost their lives to spousal homicide since 1974, is set up in the Centre Square Mall, and is receiving the intended response.

"We wanted to get a visual representation of the women," said Rebecca Latour, director of family violence programs at the YWCA. "We are hoping the display is very powerful. We are really trying to find a way of reaching people."

Nicole Dion, a passerby, stopped to find out what the display was about, and was immediately taken back by what she saw.

"The display really hits home," she said. "All these women could be here right now. It brings tears to my eyes."

Fifteen year-old Megan Martens agreed, and said as a witness to spousal abuse growing up, she knows the dangers involved in family violence.

"It makes me feel really sad," she said. "It's sad that the women aren't here anymore."

During the official launch of Family Violence Awareness Week at the Great Hall of the legislative assembly Monday, minister of health and social services Michael Miltenberger unveiled this years poster theme, which reads "Respecting Elders Respecting Others."

"Each year we focus on learning more about family violence and it's effects," said Barb Saunders, executive from the Status of Women Council of the NWT.

Beatrice Campbell, president of the NWT Senior Society, was also at the launch and said it is time to target elder abuse.

"Elders are the most silent victims in the cycle of family violence," she said. "It's time to acknowledge that some elders are abused and we will not tolerate elders being victims of any form of abuse." During the event, the NWT Family Violence Action Plan was presented to Miltenberger, which calls for cooperation and collaboration between government, NGOs and front line workers to implement the recommendations brought forth in the plan.

"I can tell you the work has already started," said Miltenberger. "We will be moving on this and that is the commitment of the government."

Although the theme changes each year, all areas of family violence are targeted by organizations through displays and events addressing violence.

Violence statistics - One in four women in the North are victims of violence

- Twenty-two women in the NWT and Nunavut have been victims of spousal homicide since 1974

- The rate of shelter use in the NWT is eight times the national average

- 374 cases of spousal assault against a female were reported to RCMP in the NWT

- Last year, 4,359 calls were made to Northwest Territories crisis lines and almost 700 women and children stayed in shelters