End Violence Everywhere (EVE), a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting survivors of domestic violence, is urging all political parties in Ontario to take a clear and actionable stance on addressing intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual violence. “EVE (is) calling on the party leaders to release platforms on how they will address it,” said Ish Van Der Rassel, a North Bay native and a government relations and community outreach advisor for the organization, in an email to CTVNorthernOntario.ca. The organization has issued 18 critical questions to political leaders, demanding concrete commitments to legal reform, survivor support and violence prevention. The organization’s questions focus on justice and legal reform, homicide and systemic failures, housing and economic stability, trauma recovery and support services and prevention and education. In a news release, EVE highlighted systemic failures in Ontario that allow perpetrators to evade accountability while survivors struggle without adequate support. “No parties have formally responded to requests for platforms with judicial changes,” the organization said. Ontario is currently facing a crisis of IPV-related homicides, underfunded victim services and a legal system that routinely fails survivors. EVE’s questions span five key areas and aim to hold political leaders accountable for addressing these issues. “We are tired of hearing that ‘more needs to be done’ while survivors remain unsafe, unsupported, and unheard,” EVE said. “These are not abstract policy issues – these are life-and-death questions. We demand clear commitments, not vague promises.” EVE is also calling for emergency funding for transitional housing, expanded trauma-informed therapy, and mandatory education in schools on consent, coercive control and healthy relationships. The organization’s key demands include government-funded legal representation for survivors, mandatory judicial training to address bias and reforms to bail laws to prevent repeat offenders from being released. EVE’s call to action comes as Ontario grapples with a growing crisis of gender-based violence, with survivors and advocates demanding urgent and meaningful change. “With Ontario at a breaking point, EVE is urging all political leaders to provide direct answers to these 18 questions and take immediate action to protect survivors and hold perpetrators accountable,” the organization said. EVE’s critical questions Justice and legal reform Homicide and systemic failures Housing and economic stability Trauma recovery and support services Prevention and education EVE is a non-profit organization committed to supporting survivors of domestic violence, raising awareness about intimate partner violence and advocating for systemic change. “EVE envisions a world where all individuals can live free from violence and oppression,” the organization said on its website. For more information, visit endviolenceeverywhere.org.
