OPINION Dom estic homicide case highlights dangers facing women, children It's tim e we a ll speak o u t aga in st violence aga in st w om en a n d children. Lives depend on it. Dear Editor, The recent death of Jan Singh in Oakville, ruled a homicide by police, makes us all pause and re flect. We extend our deepest con dolences to the family and friends. Her loss will undoubted ly affect many lives in lasting and profound ways. On average in Canada, a wom an is murdered by her intimate partner every six days, accord ing to 2009 figures from Statistics Canada. However, in one week in Peel, Hamilton and Halton, five women were allegedly murdered by their intimate partner or a relative. The case in Oakville has been identified as a murder-suicide, which unfortunately is not an isolated incident. Instead, it highlights the many ways do mestic homicides take place in homes across Canada, including the increasing rates of domestic homicides among older adults. Domestic homicides are the most preventable and predict- able of all homicides, according to the Neighbours Friends and Families Public Education Cam paign. Year after year, the Ontario Domestic Death Review Commit tee takes a look at cases of do mestic homicides, identifying risk factors and producing rec ommendations to increase awareness about domestic vio lence and how it can escalate to domestic homicide. A woman being murdered by an intimate partner is a tragedy. When this type of crime happens in our own community, it is jar ring and highlights just how much danger women and chil dren can face. So many women are living with abuse and are struggling in isolation. It's time we all speak out against violence against women and children. Lives de pend on it. Resources and support are available to women in Halton, in cluding for women still involved in an abusive relationships, those ready to end their relation ship as well as those who have just ended their relationship. Please reach to the following or ganizations for support: • Halton Women's Place, which offers a 24-hour crisis line, safety planning, outreach services and emergency shel ters in Burlington (905-332 7892) and Milton (905-878-8555); • Thrive Counselling (905 637-5256), which offers individ ual and group counselling, as well as services for men who are abusive in their relation- ships; • SAVIS (905-875-1555), which offers a 24-hour crisis line, counselling and accompani ments to police or hospital; • Nina's Place Sexual As- sault/Domestic Violence Care Centre at Joseph Brant Hospi tal (905-632-3737 ext. 5708) for health care, referrals and coun selling; • The Women's Centre of Hal- ton (905-847-5520), which offers support, resources, including access to computer, social ac tivities, drop-in support and group programs; • Halton Regional Police Ser vices by calling 911 or through its Domestic Violence Investi gative Unit (905-825-4747 ext. 8799); • Assaulted Women's Hel pline (1-866-863-0511), which of fers a 24-hour crisis line in more than 200 languages. For those of you who know someone who is experiencing abuse in their relationships, find insidehaiton.com/ietters a way to reach out and let them know you care about them. To learn more about how to help a friend, family member, co worker, or neighbour, under stand warning signs, or to talk to a man you know about his abu sive behaviour towards his part ner, visit www.neighbours- friendsandfamilies.ca. Tricia Porter Halton Violence Prevention Council Letters See what our readers are saying about the issues tha t matter to them Don't be a LitterBug! Please keep our community clean Farewell foot pain Our foot care starts with education. 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