Photo credit: globalnews.ca
An advocacy organization focusing on reproductive health has raised concerns regarding the Nova Scotia government’s response to the recent rise in gender-based violence. The group, known as Wellness Within, argues that the provincial budget presented last month falls short in addressing this critical issue.
According to Wellness Within, the budget’s allocation of $100 million for ongoing support for gender-based violence and intimate partner violence lacks the necessary funding to meet the persistent demand for comprehensive solutions.
The organization also points out that the budget fails to respond to calls for the provision of free contraception. Referencing the Access Now Nova Scotia coalition, Wellness Within highlights a troubling correlation between intimate partner violence and barriers to contraceptive access, noting that women in Canada who experience domestic violence are twice as likely to face unintended pregnancies.
In a stark reminder of the urgency surrounding this issue, police in southwestern Nova Scotia recently reported the tragic death of an 83-year-old woman linked to intimate partner violence—marking the seventh incident of a woman’s death associated with domestic abuse since mid-October.
Government Response
When the budget was unveiled on February 19, government officials announced an additional $7 million directed towards transition houses and women’s centers, alongside an increase in the paid domestic violence leave program from three to five days.
In light of these developments, Wellness Within is urging the provincial government to follow through on the recommendations made in the inquiry into the 2020 mass shooting that began with an act of gender-based violence and ultimately claimed 22 lives.
Source
globalnews.ca