The North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP detachment is marking the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, an international campaign that runs from Nov. 25 to Dec. 10, with purple lights displayed outside of the police headquarters on Canada Avenue.
The 16 Days is an opportunity for the community to come together to call out and speak up on gender-based violence, and is marked around the world.
It includes Dec. 6, the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, and the goal is to demonstrate the continued commitment to eliminating violence against women, children and gender-diverse individuals.
The detachment uses purple lights because the colour purple symbolizes courage, honour, and healing.
This colour has a long history of being used as a symbol by those seeking justice.
Survivors of relationship and sexualized violence say it continues to be a concern in the community.
At the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP detachment, frontline officers and support units like the Crimes Against Persons Unit continue to support survivors every day, and collaborate with other community agencies to assist survivors and give them their voice again.
Police work in partnership with other agencies to show survivors that the community cares about their experience, there are ways to assist them, and they are not alone.
“We as a community all have an important role to play in creating a safe environment for survivors of gender-based violence, says Crimes Against Persons Unit coordinator Corp. Kim Granneman.
“We challenge every person in this community to show their support in a way that is safe and appropriate. This can mean speaking out when you hear derogatory language, donating to agencies that work with survivors, or talking with youth in your life about healthy relationships and understanding consent.”
Granneman said the detachment encourages individuals and organizations to also put up a string of purple lights as visible symbol to friends, neighbours, and the community of their support to end gender-based violence.