For immediate release: March 2, 2006

Contact:
Danielle Kluz, Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women
651-646-6177 (office) or 612-239-6343 (cell)

Mary Allen, Minnesota Network on Abuse in Later Life
651-523-0502 (office) or 651-233-9367 (cell)

MINNESOTA COALITION FOR BATTERED WOMEN RELEASES 2005 FEMICIDE REPORT

St. Paul, MN - The Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women (MCBW) released the 2005 Femicide Report today. The report documents the number of women and children murdered in 2005 as a result of domestic violence. Danielle Kluz, Communications Coordinator for the Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women, stated, "We come together to honor [the lives of 2005's victims], and to say that we will not rest until women and children no longer have to live and die in fear. Their lives mattered, and they will not be forgotten."

She added, "The 2005 Femicide Report, and its story of the lives tragically lost, clearly illustrates that domestic violence affects everyone in this state. It's time we dispel the myths that surround domestic violence. Domestic violence is an epidemic from which no one is immune."

According to Kluz, in 2005 in Minnesota:

At least 17 women were murdered in cases where the suspected, alleged, or convicted perpetrator was a current or former husband, boyfriend, or intimate partner of the deceased woman.

At least 9 women ages 50 or older were murdered in cases where the suspected, alleged, or convicted perpetrator was a family member of the deceased woman.

At least 1 woman was murdered while being used in prostitution.

At least 4 children under the age of 18 were murdered in cases where the suspected, alleged, or convicted perpetrator was the father, mother, guardian, babysitter, child care provider, or household/family member of the child, or the perpetrator was the parent's spouse or intimate partner.

At least 2 friends or family members were murdered in domestic violence-related situations.

At least 18 children have been left motherless by the murders of their mothers.

The number of women murdered by an intimate partner or a family member doubled from 13 women in 2004 to 26 women in 2005. Of those 26 women, 9 were women ages 50 or older who were murdered by male relatives. In 2004, by comparison, no women 50 or older were murdered by male relatives.

Mary Allen, Training Coordinator for the Minnesota Network on Abuse in Later Life stated, "The number of older women murdered in 2005 is both shocking and appalling. Violence against women doesn't stop as one grows older, but abuse in later life remains one of the most hidden and underreported crimes in communities today."

Leigh Ann Olson also spoke at the press conference. In September 2004, Olson's 5-year-old daughter, Mikayla, was murdered by the child's father. In February 2005, Bonita Thoms, her mother, was murdered by a male relative. "Mikayla had so much love to give and she touched so many lives in her short time with us. Mom was such a loving, caring person who found the 'good' in everyone. Our family has experienced so much pain and heartache, losing these two precious people. No one should have to experience those kinds of losses."

Kluz urged Minnesota to end domestic violence by providing safety for all battered women and their children by ensuring adequate funding for safe shelter and advocacy services, as well as funding for affordable housing and transitional housing. She also stated, "Our communities must come together to promote justice for all battered women with laws to protect them, effective enforcement of those laws, and aggressive prosecution of all domestic abuse crimes and all prostitution crimes targeting perpetrators, pimps, traffickers, and 'johns.'" She added that it is imperative to provide for the future of all citizens by insuring that Minnesota implements effective domestic violence prevention strategies.

The press conference closed with Kluz asserting, "Our greatest wish is that if the public takes anything away from the release of The 2005 Femicide Report, it is to honor and remember the women and children we lost to domestic violence. We also want to make clear that we are all responsible for ending domestic violence. We will end domestic violence only if we all work together to ensure that the safety of Minnesota's women and children is the number one priority. I ask each and every one of you: what will you do to end domestic violence?"

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The Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women is the statewide coalition of eighty battered women's programs in Minnesota. The mission of the Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women is to provide a voice for battered women and member programs; challenge systems and institutions so they respond more effectively to the needs of battered women and their children; promote social change; and support, educate, and connect member programs.

The Minnesota Network on Abuse in Later Life is a statewide organization that works to promote networks of organizations and individuals through statewide community education to address issues of domestic/sexual abuse in later life, advocacy, and perpetrator accountability.

Download the 2005 Femicide Report (PDF file).

Access the Femicide Reports from 1988-2004.

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