Talk about sexual violence while filling your tank

“Fill ‘er up” will not have the same meaning on September 17 and 18 at a dozen gas stations in the region during the Journée d’action/Day of Action on sexual violence against women.

At certain specific times, representatives from five well identified organizations will offer to fill your tank and distribute bracelets with the inscription «La violence sexuelle regarde tout le monde» - “Sexual violence affects us all”

With this gesture, CALACS La Vigie, the Centre D'Main de Femmes, Accueil pour Elle, Résidence Elle du Haut Saint-Laurent and l'hébergement La Passerelle from Vaudreuil-Soulanges are inviting the entire population to think about doing something to denounce and stop sexual assault.  

“Our goal is to go out, meet and reach people of all ages in their everyday environment in order to exchange ideas and bring about change. It is important that everyone take a clear position against sexual violence”, asserts Roxanne Leblanc, an employee at La Vigie.

Everyone has a reason to be concerned about this problem, given that only 10% of assaults are reported to the police and in nearly 85 % of cases, the victim knows the aggressor. The aggressor is just as likely as the victim to be someone we know without realizing it.

The Journée d’action/Day of Action on sexual violence against women has been organized in the region since 1985.  It also provides an opportunity to fight ongoing prejudices regarding violence against women, for example the belief that the victim “asked for it” by wearing provocative clothing.

“It’s important to understand that sexual assault is, above all, about power and domination used by the aggressor against his victim to satisfy his needs. Strictly speaking, it is not a question of sexual desire” says Leblanc, who also associates acts of voyeurism and exhibitionism with sexual violence.

The Journée d’action/Day of Action on sexual violence against women serves as a reminder that this problem involves more than just a few people and is, in fact, a societal problem that should be of concern to everyone.

Fortunately, trends indicate that victims have faster access to support and counseling services, even though only 10 % report incidents to the police. The Province of Quebec, however, has the lowest reporting rates in Canada.

Some statistics from CALACS La Vigie 2014-15

-154 people assisted (151 women, 3 men)

-41% linked to incest

-In 90 % of cases, the aggressor was known to the victim.

Participating gas stations

Valleyfield:

-Pétro-T - 275 Jacques-Cartier

-Pétro-T - 60 Grande-Ile

-Canadian Tire - 1770 boul. Mgr-Langlois

Soulanges:

-Ultramar - 350 Cité des Jeunes, Saint-Clet

-Ultramar - 33, route 201, Coteau-du-Lac

Haut Saint-Laurent:

-Couche-Tard, Châteauguay Street, Huntingdon

-Marché D. Rochefort, route 201, Saint-Antoine-Abbé

-Pétro-Canada, route 201, Ormstown

Translated by Cathleen Johnston