Mr. Speaker, from October 17 to 23, the Young Women's Christian Association is celebrating the YWCA Week Without Violence
Despite all the progress that has been made and all the battles that have been won by women in the last one hundred years, we are still finishing this century on an ambiguous note.
The statistics are very eloquent: one girl in five abused by a boyfriend, one woman in three a victim of spousal violence at least once in her lifetime. A lot still needs to be done.
In light of these statistics, which are unworthy of the next century, I call upon the hon. members of this House to reaffirm their disapproval of this situation. I call upon them to support the organizations in their ridings that are involved in fighting these crimes, such as shelters for battered women.
This behaviour will become unacceptable to society only when it is universally condemned.