December 6th: National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

On December 6th, Canadians pause to remember the victims of gender-based violence and to reflect on the work still needed to ensure women can live free from fear. At the Ottawa Police Service, efforts to support survivors and encourage reporting are evolving, with promising results.

Melanie Winwood, Ottawa Police’s Senior Advisor on Violence Against Women, highlights both the progress and ongoing challenges.

“We’re seeing more women come forward,” she says. “Through our risk navigators and other recent initiatives, women feel understood, supported, and better informed about what reporting entails. They understand more about what the next steps are, and that knowledge makes a huge difference.”

Risk navigators, part of the civilian Victim Support Unit, play a key role in this progress. After officers respond to domestic violence incidents where no charges are laid, risk navigators review the files for potential risks and vulnerability factors. They reach out to individuals, offering support, safety planning, and information about reporting options. “It’s not always about filing a report right away,” Winwood explains. “It’s about making sure women know help is available, connecting them with services and letting them know that the police are concerned for their safety.”

These efforts are showing measurable results. Comparing the first three quarters of 2024 and 2025, reporting of intimate partner violence increased by 8.6%, a change attributed in part to the implementation of risk navigators and other programs such as the Victim Choice Reporting Unit. For many women, this guidance transforms fear and uncertainty into confidence to take the next step.

Winwood also emphasizes the importance of acknowledging the broader context of violence against women.

“The term ‘femicide’ has been used internationally for decades to describe the gender-based killing of women,” she says. “It’s not new but using it now helps shine a light on the realities women face and underscores the need for systemic change.”

Despite progress, challenges remain. Police services continue to face resource and capacity issues that impact our ability to offer effective and consistent responses which impact public trust. Winwood notes, however, that initiatives like the Risk Navigation Program, and the Victim Support Unit as a whole, ensure that, even when the system is imperfect, women still receive meaningful support.

As Canada observes the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, the Ottawa Police Service reflects on the work that has been done, and the work still ahead. Every report taken seriously, every survivor supported, and every risk acknowledged is part of a broader commitment to ensuring women can live safely and with dignity.