Legal Aid Alberta hosting online talk about dangerous domestic situations
By Lethbridge Herald on November 25, 2020.
Incidents of family violence are on the rise during COVID-19 and as the pandemic worsens and winter hits, more people are at risk.
Today, Legal Aid Alberta lawyers are hosting their first free public online event to talk with Albertans about their legal options when someone is in a dangerous domestic situation.
“We are concerned about the number of families in Alberta that are experiencing family violence and are unable to access help due to social isolation requirements due to COVID-19,” Legal Aid Alberta staff lawyer Christina Riddoch, team lead of the Emergency Protection Order Program in Edmonton, said in a news release. “Some cases involve family violence, while others are complicated high-conflict parenting situations.”
At the virtual session, Legal Aid lawyers will explain how an Emergency Protection Order (EPO) can keep someone safe from an abuser. A recording of the session will be made available on the Legal Aid website afterward.
“It’s important for everyone to know what to do so they can help a friend or loved one in a dangerous situation,” says Riddoch, whose office has seen a 10 per cent increase in applications for EPOs since the spring. “Family violence should not be a private matter. It impacts all of society and has a cost to all of society. Everyone in the community needs to be vigilant.”
Visit bit.ly/LAAEPOevent for more details.
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