This year’s Shine The Light on Woman Abuse campaign, spearheaded locally by London Abused Women’s Centre (LAWC), will focus on femicide and all the lives that have been taken due to male violence.
Alongside this, other issues of violence against women will be talked about through events and education to spread awareness to the community.
(Members from LAWC countdown to light up the Tree of Hope in purple at Victoria Park, XFM News 2022)
In the past year, LAWC has had over 10,000 service interactions, including “260 women who were trafficked or were at risk of being trafficked, and over 850 women who were subjected to abuse by their intimate partners,” said Jennifer Dunn, Executive Director of LAWC, at the launch on Monday.
“We have lost way too may women in our community alone, let alone, you know, communities around us, and it’s time that we talk about it more,” said Dunn.
“It’s very important to [raise awareness] because without it, women and girls will not know that our organization even exists” and “it’s very important for them to know that there’s help for them when they’re ready.”
The family of a victim to femicide, Breanna Broadfoot, attended the launch to share her story. Broadfoot was murdered at only 17-years-old by a former boyfriend in July of 2024.
“We’ve lost a piece of us, you sit at a table and there’s an empty seat,” said Brett Broadfoot, father of the victim.
Broadfoot recalls memories during Christmas where Breanna would bake cinnamon rolls or go through her stocking in the early morning with her brother and best friend. He says each morning he wakes up expecting to see both of his and Jess Broadfoot’s children, but that’s not the reality he faces.
“These types of campaigns bring that awareness of what’s happening and how we can support women and girls in need who are being abused by their male partners,” said Broadfoot.
(Brett and Jess Broadfoot, parents of victim Breanna Broadfoot, at Shine the Light media launch)
He believes there needs to be a systematic change, where there’s a “better monitoring system” and “harsher rules” for abusers.
When asked about the community support at LAWC, Broadfoot says he does not think that grief will ever end, but they’ve “been given the essential tools to help” with the process.
The campaign will be active throughout the month of November, with the “Lighting of the Tree” taking place at Victoria Park on November 3. Buildings will also be lit in purple throughout the campaign in support of the initiative.
