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Re: Vaughan man charged after woman found in house fire, Sept. 28, 2022.
Yellow Brick House is deeply saddened to share the news that a woman was murdered and her husband has been arrested on Sept. 27, 2022 in Vaughan. We send our sincere condolences to Naheed Askaryar's family and friends.
With a 30 per cent increase in domestic violence since the start of the pandemic and a 53 per cent increase in femicides last year compared to the previous year, gender-based violence continues to be a critical issue impacting individuals, families and communities. On average, there are three femicides occurring every month in Ontario. However, in August we saw double that, with six femicides in the province.
Gender-based violence is an often invisible issue, and many women and gender-diverse individuals may not be aware of the services that are available in their community. Every Ontarian has a key role to play when it comes to addressing gender-based violence and preventing femicide. Take action to address gender-based violence in a meaningful way today by:
- Talking with those close to you about how shelters in your community play an essential role for survivor safety through their programs and services and continue to have services available throughout the pandemic
- Teaching boys and young men about healthy masculinity, consent, gender equality, and expressing their emotions in a healthy way
- Contacting our municipal, provincial and federal politicians to let them know you want them to take action to end gender-based violence through commitments and planning at all levels of government.
- Connecting with Yellow Brick House and other violence against women organizations about how you can support their services
We believe that every femicide is preventable. However, ending violence against women and girls is only possible with active collective participation. We must work together to break the silence and end violence against women and children.
If you are a survivor of violence in need of support, please contact Yellow Brick House’s 24-hour Crisis and Support Line at 1-800-263-3247. You can also seek support from any of the York Region’s Violence Against Women Coordinating Committee member agencies. Visit their website for more information.
Lorris Herenda, chief executive officer, Yellow Brick House
