Media Advisory - YWCA Canada Rose Campaign Says Women Forced to Choose
between Poverty and Abuse

Calls for Federal Government Leadership on Policy Coordination

OTTAWA , Nov. 24 /CNW/ -

    
    WHAT:     YWCA Canada press conference launching its annual Rose Campaign
              to End Violence Against Women and Girls.

    WHO:      Paulette Senior, CEO of YWCA Canada; Ann Decter, Director of
              Advocacy & Public Policy, YWCA Canada; Barbara Burdick,
              Vice-President, DAWN Canada; and women's advocates Janet
              Holden, Ghislaine Sathoud and Marie Speakman.

              As well as The Honourable Helena Guergis, Minister of State
              (Status of Women), The Honourable Anita Neville, Official
              Opposition Critic for the Liberal Party of Canada; Vivian
              Barbot, Vice-President Bloc Québécois; and Irene Mathyssen, NDP
              Status of Women Critic.

    WHEN:     Wednesday, November 25, 2009
              10:00am - 10:30am EST

    WHERE:    Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery - Charles Lynch Room
              130-S Centre Block, Parliament Hill
              Ottawa, ON
    

Launched on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, YWCA's annual Rose Campaign runs until December 6 and commemorates Canada's National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. The Campaign calls on the federal government to ensure every woman fleeing violence has access to shelter and no woman leaving shelter is forced to choose between poverty or a return to abuse. On the eve of the 20th anniversary of the Montreal Massacre, YWCA CEO Paulette Senior and domestic violence survivors from across the country advocate for coordinated system change for women to move beyond violence including access to shelter; a legal system that works for women; safe, affordable housing, a secure income and childcare to support their ability to work.

About YWCA Canada:

YWCA Canada is the country's oldest and largest women's multi-service organization. With 33 Member Associations operating in more than 400 districts and communities across the country, our Turning Point Programs for Women(TM) - which address personal safety, economic security and well-being - reach out to 1 million women and girls in nine provinces and one territory. YWCA is the largest national provider of shelter to women, serving 25,000 women, children and teen girls including 6,000 fleeing domestic violence each year. We are the largest provider of literacy, life skills, employment and counselling programs in the country, and the second largest provider of childcare services. YWCA Canada is a member association of the World YWCA which unites 25 million women and girls worldwide and spans 125 countries. For more information about YWCA Canada and our Member Associations, visit www.ywcacanada.ca.

For further information: on YWCA Canada, the Rose Campaign or to set up an interview with any of the speakers above, contact Laura Tilley, Communications & Marketing Manager at [phone] x 233