British ColumbiaTuesday marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, an annual observance designated by the United Nations to raise awareness about gender-based violence. Tuesday marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against WomenCourtney Dickson · CBC News · Posted: Nov 25, 2025 7:54 PM EST | Last Updated: 1 hour agoListen to this articleEstimated 4 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.A group of advocates stood on the steps of the Legislature on Tuesday to bring awareness to gender-based violence in British Columbia. (Mike McArthur/CBC)As rain fell in B.C.’s capital Tuesday afternoon, more than a dozen people stood on the steps of the Legislature, holding signs mourning 15 women killed by men in intimate partner violence in the province this year. Tuesday marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, an annual observance designated by the United Nations to raise awareness about gender-based violence. According to Statistics Canada, an average of 102 women and girls across Canada were victims of gender-related homicide each year from 2011 to 2021. Statistics Canada says 93 per cent of those homicides were committed by a male intimate partner or family member of the victim. WATCH | Calls for action on intimate partner violence:Advocates call for action on intimate partner violenceB.C. has seen a spate of intimate partner violence in the last week, two of which involved people in their 60s and up. As Johna Baylon reports, intimate partner violence has been on the rise among older adults, and advocates are calling for something to be done.“It is an ever-present issue where men see women as someone or something to be controlled,” said Dahye Son, an anti-violence worker at Vancouver Rape Relief and Women’s Shelter. “Because it’s violence that happens behind closed doors, something that’s considered in private, there’s a tendency for society to just accept it and let it happen.”Dahye Son holds a sign in honour of Naomi Sturrock, one of the women killed in intimate partner violence in B.C. this year. (Mike McArthur/CBC)Son stood among those at the Legislature bringing awareness to the issue in B.C. On each sign they held, the name of a victim of gender-based violence was printed.One of those names was Bailey McCourt, a Kelowna woman who was allegedly killed by her ex-husband earlier this year. McCourt’s aunt, Debbie Henderson, said the rates of intimate partner violence in B.C. and across Canada is “unfathomable.”“Every time we see something on the news about another woman, it’s gut-wrenching,” she said. “We’re frustrated, we want to see change happen and there’s things that can be done sooner.”WATCH | Calls for stricter bail reform rules:Calls grow for tough action on perpetrators of intimate-partner violence B.C. Premier David Eby was in Ottawa on Thursday, and one of the topics he raised with his federal counterparts is the need for bail reform and tougher action on perpetrators of intimate-partner violence. As Katie DeRosa reports, it comes as the family of a woman allegedly killed by her ex-husband in Kelowna calls for urgent reforms.That’s why groups like Vancouver Rape Relief and Women’s Shelter are calling on all levels of government to intervene, and do more to protect women. Son suggested a monitoring system for men released from custody who have a history of violence against women. Each time a woman is killed in a case of intimate partner violence, Son says she would also like to see the provincial coroner make it public. Angela Marie MacDougall, who heads Battered Women’s Support Services, is pushing for governments to better fund community organizations dealing with intimate partner violence. (CBC)Angela Marie MacDougall, executive director with Battered Women’s Support Services in Vancouver, said she’s been pushing for local governments to initiate task forces to combat gender-based violence.They’ve also requested a 15 per cent increase to emergency funding for community-based services to deal with increased demands for support throughout the province. “We think it’s important that we are resourcing that frontline better, and from an emergency point of view,” she told CBC’s The Early Edition. LISTEN | Calls for all levels of government to put an end to gender-based violence:The Early Edition7:33November 25 is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against WomenAngela Marie MacDougall is the executive director of Battered Women’s Support Services.In a statement, Premier David Eby said the province has been working with Kim Stanton, who published a final report on her review of the B.C. legal system’s treatment of intimate partner and sexual violence in June. “We have reviewed her recommendations and will have more to say on our next steps very soon,” Eby said.WATCH | B.C. doctor studying brains of intimate partner violence victims:B.C. doctors studying brain injuries in survivors of intimate partner violenceMultiple recent cases of fatal intimate partner violence in B.C. have advocates like Dr. Cheryl Wellington calling on the province to declare the violence a public health crisis. The vice chair of research at UBC’s department of pathology and laboratory medicine, Wellington is leading a team of researchers looking at the prevalence of traumatic brain injuries in survivors of intimate partner violence.The premier said the province has also been calling for federal bail and sentencing reform. “We will continue to support prevention and awareness campaigns, housing for women fleeing violence and programs and services for survivors throughout the province,” he said.“We know there is more to do, and we will continue to do that work until every woman in our province feels safe and supported.”ABOUT THE AUTHORCourtney Dickson is an award-winning journalist with CBC News based in Vancouver, B.C.With files from Katie DeRosa and The Early Edition
Vigil mourns women killed by men in B.C. this year
