Surrey continues the fight against domestic violence.
Domestic violence in all forms presents danger in everyday lives and long-lasting effects for victims and society as a whole. In 2011, 3500 domestic abuse files where opened according to the Surrey RCMP. National and international data is even more troubling.
There are many organizations and individuals dedicated to the prevention and elimination of domestic abuse. Last year, The City of Surrey Councillor Barinder Rasode launched a new initiative supported by Mayor Dianne Watts, and fellow Councillors. This project was developed to bring awareness to and help eliminate domestic violence through the introduction of the Indian Rakhi tradition.
Rakhi ceremony happens every year as a part of the South Asian culture, where a sister ties a Rakhi, or sacred thread on her brother’s wrist. This is a symbol of a sister’s prayer for her brother, and a brother’s vow to protect his sister. The Rakhi ceremony is an expression of mutual love and respect.
Photo: Rick Chapman, City of Surrey
The 2nd annual Rakhi project continues to raise awareness and build a strong community against domestic abuse. The 2012 Rakhi Project was launched on Friday, July 6th at Surrey City Hall with great media support. The new Officer in Charge of the Surrey RCMP detachment, Supt. Bill Fordy showed his support for this initiative at the launch. The Rakhi Project’s signature purple thread bracelet symbolizes the support for the fight against domestic abuse and a promise of protection by the men who wear them.
Photo: Rick Chapman, City of Surrey
Mayor Dianne Watts who tied a thread to the wrist of Supt. Bill Fordy at the launch, said that “The Rakhi project is about taking a visible and unified approach to raising awareness around the issue of domestic violence, which is very serious crime that has a devastating effect on families”.
Photo: Rick Chapman, City of Surrey
The Rakhi project was developed at a municipal level to address these important issues that affect our country. Using our community to spread the word will bring awareness to the fight against domestic violence on Local, Provincial and National levels.
According to UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) 5000 women are killed annually by members of their families, and projections of those injured or affected are in the high hundreds of thousands. Last year, one of the most brutal examples of domestic violence occurred when Ravinder Kaur Bhangu was killed by her husband at her workplace. The public was speechless after learning the details of the Shafia case in which family members brutally killed three female members as punishment for not obeying radical traditions based on sharia ideals.
Photo: Rick Chapman, City of Surrey
At last year’s launch Councillor Rasode and the City stated that this campaign was not only about bringing attention to an important issue that exists in every community, but also about inclusion. The wish is to highlight a South Asian tradition and introduce it to the community. We have more in common than we realize, and our shared respect for family values is one example of that commonality.
The Rakhi Project purple bracelets are designed by local artist Karen Lipsett-Kidd and will be on sale at various locations in our community for $5 each. They will be available at various Save On Foods locations, Fruiticana, DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society, Kwantlen bookstores, Surrey Women’s Centre, Progressive Intercultural Community Services (PICS) and Surrey City Hall. Proceeds will go to the City of Surrey’s Coalition Against Domestic Abuse (SCADA), another initiative within the Surrey Crime Reduction Strategy.
Photo: The City of Surrey
