It is a political initiative that is sure to get people talking in Canada. As Le Figaro reports, several Canadian politicians, who sought to raise awareness of the fight against violence against women, put on pink pumps during a campaign led by Halton Women’s Place, a women’s shelter located in the town of Halton, in the province of Ontario.
“Violence against women is still prevalent in our society. Hope in Heels is an event that raises awareness about violence against women while encouraging men and boys to be part of the solution. We wore the iconic pink heels [de Hope in Heels, NDLR] to support this important cause”, justified Omar Alghabra, the Canadian Minister of Transport. All by posting a video viewed more than 8 million times by Internet users on Twitter.
Violence against women is still prevalent in our society. Hope in Heels is an event that spreads awareness on violence against women while encouraging men and boys to be part of the solution. We wore their signature pink heels in support to this important cause. @HaltonWomensPl pic.twitter.com/5qngxQ6Myu
But this action by Canadian parliamentarians has not failed to be decried on social networks. “Canadian women, do you feel safer now? pointed to Maxime Bernier, one of the opposition leaders. Active activist against violence against women, J.K. Rowling, author of the famous Harry Potter saga, wonders about “the number of feminicides avoided” thanks to this event, our colleagues have spotted.
Keep us posted on how many femicides this prevented. https://t.co/DvqsYbprzs
Faced with the outcry caused by his widely commented video, Omar Alghabra defended himself and said he regretted that “a group of men in lack of confidence speak out when they see men wearing high heels”. “It’s ironic that those who complain about how easily society is offended are easily offended by a simple gesture,” he tweeted.
An organization that fights violence against women has been coming to Parliament for years asking MPs to help them promote their work. Yet an insecure group of men speak out when they see men wearing high heels. https://t.co/CRtbpjIspn
