Mr. Speaker, approximately one woman is killed by a weapon in Canada every six days. She is often killed in a private home. She is often killed by someone she knows. If she is killed by her partner, chances are she has been killed with a gun.
The victims of violence are often those who suffer in silence. They are our mothers, our sisters, our daughters, and our partners.
The national day of remembrance and action on violence against women is very important. It is a day for us to remember the victims of violence, those who suffer from abuse or from the loss of a loved one who has been taken from them. It is also a day of action. It is a day to promote the rights of victims, victim impact statements, the family violence initiative, more effective peace bonds, harsher sentences for offenders. These are initiatives to empower the victims of violence.
We must also continue to work locally in our neighbourhoods and communities to promote awareness and openness in helping the victims of violence. Working together, we can make our communities a safer place.