Warning: This story discusses intimate partner violence that may be triggering for some readers.
A Vancouver-based rape crisis centre held a silent rally in Victoria Monday to honour 16 women who were killed by men in B.C. this year, including three Surrey women.
Pawitarpreet Kaur Sidhu, Tori Dunn and Navdeep Kaur were among the women being remembered on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
Pawitarpreet Kaur Sidhu, 33, died on April 26 in Newton, and Hardeep Sidhu, 39, was later charged with second-degree murder. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team said the two were "known to each other."
Surrey resident Navdeep Kaur, 28, was reported missing by her family on Feb. 23. The Surrey RCMP Missing Persons Unit had conducted an extensive investigation into Kaur's disappearance, which led investigators to believe that it may have been the result of criminality.
IHIT took charge of the case, working closely with Surrey RCMP, the Integrated Forensic Identification Service (IFIS) and the BC Coroners Service. On July 23, Richmond RCMP found human remains, later identified as Kaur, in the water where Williams Road meets the Fraser River. No one has been charged in her death, but the investigation is on going.
Tori Dunn, 30, was found with life-threatening injuries in her home in Port Kells on June 16. She later died in hospital.
Adam Mann, 40, was charged with second-degree murder on June 28 in connection to Dunn's death.
Hilla Kerner, a Vancouver Rape Relief & Women's Shelter collective member, said in a release they are calling for systemic change.
“The murder of Tori Dunn shows that the criminal justice system must create effective methods to supervise and monitor men who are known to be violent and if measures as such are not in place, men who pose a risk to women are to be held in custody until the completion of justice proceedings,” Kerner said.
The rally was held in front of the B.C. legislature Monday (Nov. 26) with participants holding signs with women's names, ages, and the date of their murder.
Many of the signs noted that the woman was killed by her male partner or ex-partner, according to Kerner. The organizers had to add another sign Monday morning as the Vancouver Police Department released a statement on the death of 26-year-old Roshnee Gurung, who was killed on Friday night (Nov. 22). Her husband is charged with her murder.
Four of the signs only read "woman" as the vigil organizers were not able to find their names while reviewing police news releases and media reports.
"We want to know their names,” said Kerner, “and we want the BC Coroners Service to conduct an inquest for each case of femicide. The public needs to know what could have been done to protect them so we can demand and press for change.”
Resources for those experiencing intimate partner violence
If you or someone you know is experiencing intimate partner violence and are in immediate danger, call 9-1-1.
Other resources include VictimsLinkBC, which can be reached toll-free at 1-800-563-0808 or by email at VictimLinkBC@bc211.ca. This multilingual service is available 24/7. Staff can connect you to various resources, including victim services, transition houses, and counselling.
-With files from Alex Browne & Dan Ebenal
