12th annual Shine the Light on Woman Abuse campaign launches: ‘I felt scared, helpless’

LAWC is reporting a 45 per cent increase in women and girls accessing their urgent services program during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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With the demand for services growing, the London Abused Women’s Centre’s (LAWC) annual Shine the Light on Woman Abuse campaign is more important now than ever before. It launched Friday with a powerful story from a  woman who overcame a lifetime of abuse.

This last year LAWC reported 3,800 women and girls received individual and group support, as well as 5,400 calls for support.

The centre is also reporting a 45 per cent increase in women and girls accessing their urgent services program during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Shine the Light campaign was created to raise awareness of the issue of violence against women and show women and girls they are not alone.

“There is help when they are ready, and there is hope when they are ready … The community stands shoulder to shoulder with them and the shame and blame they may feel is not their’s to feel – it is the responsibility of the perpetrator,” said Jennifer Dunn, LAWC executive director.

Each year the campaign honours two women who are either survivors of violence against women or victims who have lost their lives.

This year’s honourees are Shadia Keza and Rebecca Amendola, who both survived being sexually abused as teenagers.