The Domestic Abuse Resource Team of Oxford would like Woodstock City Council to declare intimate partner violence an epidemic.
WOODSTOCK - The Domestic Abuse Resource Team of Oxford is taking a stand in the city on the rise of domestic violence.
DART Team Lead Joanna Piatkowski says they will be approaching Woodstock City Council with a delegation to declare intimate partner violence an epidemic.
“Fourteen municipalities across Ontario have already declared it as such, including the City of Ottawa. Our hope is that the City of Woodstock will support this, and we can bring it forward to the County.”
Piatkowski added there are two reasons why they feel the delegation in Oxford needs to be made now.
“[We need to] highlight A, it is happening in all communities, no one is exempt from that. And B, to put a little pressure on our provincial government and federal government to increase some of our funding.”
After researching statistics in Woodstock, DART found that the WPS responded to more than 1,500 domestic violence calls last year, an alarming increase from prior years.
Piatkowski says they will be giving their delegation at the City Council Meeting this Thursday.

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