Conference Focuses on Women, Violence
The fourth annual Ending Violence Against Women conference is expected to draw more than 1,500 people to the daylong event today at Cal State Northridge, organizers said.
“We’re going to provide tools to end violence,” said coordinator and co-founder Jean Morrison. “We’re teaching preparation. If we take time to prepare for a large earthquake that doesn’t happen every few minutes, why not prepare for sexual assault and domestic violence, something that happens every minute of every day?”
Last year in the Valley, 485 rapes were reported. But studies show that for every rape reported, nine more are not, said Morrison, who is also a spokeswoman for the Valley Trauma Center.
“This is a local issue because violence against women and children occurs in every community,” she said.
Part and parcel to raising awareness is realizing that sexual violence is about power and control, “period,” Morrison said.
“This conference will prepare us to help them,” she added.
Today’s event, held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., is free to the public. For more information, call (877) 522-8337.
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