A tree in Victoria Park will be lit purple for the entire month of November to raise awareness and stand in solidarity with survivors of gender-based violence. “Women need to know they are not alone,” said Jennifer Dunn with the London Abused Women’s Centre (LAWC). “Women need to know that they have a community of support behind them.” It’s part of the 17th annual “Shine the Light on Women Abuse’ campaign launched by the LAWC. “The goals of the campaign remain the same, to raise awareness of violence against women and to shift any shame or blame that they might feel to the shoulders of the perpetrator of the violence and the abuse,” said Dunn. “The Shine a Light campaign was built to mobilize communities and institutions to take concrete action toward ending violence against women.” This year’s campaign theme is focused on intimate partner violence and coercive control. “Coercive control might be new to you but it is not a new kind of abuse,” said Dunn. “Coercive control is a pattern of acts such as threats or intimidation.” November is recognized in Canada as Woman Abuse Prevention Month, as well as Domestic Violence Awareness Month
