A new report from the Alberta Council of Women's Shelters shows the number of women, children and seniors seeking help has gone up by 10 per cent in the last two years.

Rowan House Executive Director Sherrie Botten says it's disheartening.

"It really is, although on the flip side I think we also have to look at the fact that women know where to go with their families in order for their families to be safe. Our numbers at Rowan House are a bit higher than that. Our calls are up 25 per cent in the past year, so 25 per cent higher than the year before."

Botten says she really can't pinpoint an exact cause for the increase in violence against women.

She says they focus a lot on education, aiming their efforts at boys and young men and hopes it will show a reduction in violence over the next few years.

"I believe that our education in the community is going to pay off, but we have some work to do still. Many people still believe that it's connected to alcoholism, and they certainly are connected, but that's not why someone ends up in an abusive home."

 

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