Andy Srougi Challenges DV Figures

Aggrieved Father Challenges DV Figures

The Gazette: Monday, October 23, 2006

Andy Srougi isn't afraid to make people angry.

Last year, he climbed to the top of the Jacques Cartier Bridge during rush hour to draw attention to fathers' rights.

Yesterday, in Montreal outside a hotel where an international conference on violence against women was being held, he called on "Nazi" feminist groups to give back the millions of dollars they get to run shelters. He claims they are empty most of the time.

"We know that there is violence against women around the world. The problem is that in Quebec the problem is bigger against men than it is against women, and they don't want to believe it," said Srougi, 39, who is locked in a bitter custody battle to regain his 4-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son.

A member of Fathers 4 Justice, Srougi challenged statistics from women's groups claiming 34 per cent of women in Quebec have been sexually abused.

"If that were true, it would mean that there were about 1.5 million women who are sexually abused and there would be 1.5 million sexual predators on the street. It's impossible. It means that we would have a police car at every corner."

Instead, he said, "these lies are being perpetrated to get the $620 million that the government gives the feminist movement. They aren't interested in the well-being of women. They are interested in manipulating things so they get more money.

"All we are asking for is to take a real look at the figures. Don't believe us? Go to the Quebec statistics institute and look at the real figures that show that Quebec has one of the lowest rates of violence against women.

''Why lie to everybody? All you are doing is taking away from the real victims, the women who are victims of violence.

"I was a victim of my ex, who was violent against me. Because I am 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, I didn't feel a thing. But psychologically, it still had an impact on me. Now, I'm not going to go out there and tell everybody that there are millions of fathers who are beaten up, because it will discredit everybody who has really been beaten. So why do the same thing on the other side? For money. That's the only reason."

He said that if the governor- general really wants to work toward equality between men and women, "she needs to expose the truth and show that there is a small group of radical feminists that we call Nazi feminists who are not interested in the truth."

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MONTREAL -- Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean was confronted Sunday by a group of fathers claiming unfair treatment by the justice system in their custody battles.

A handful of demonstrators were protesting outside a conference on violence against women and stopped Jean as she left after giving a speech.

Daniel Laforest, spokesman for the group Fathers For Justice, argued that violence against men by their spouses is also an issue that needs to be addressed and wanted to give Jean a book of statistics illustrating his point.

"Two hundred and fifty thousand children have been prevented from living with their fathers," he called out to Jean. "It's serious.

"I have studies here that say violence against men is also serious -- different, yet as serious as it is against women but no one is listening."

The Governor General listened politely as she stood on the other side of her limousine by its open door. A contingent of RCMP and Montreal police formed an additional barrier between her and the demonstrators and did not let Laforest near her.

When Laforest finished talking, Jean thanked him, got into the car and left.

Jean earlier addressed about 400 people attending the opening of the conference Violence Against Women: Diversifying Social Responses.

Before becoming Governor General in September 2005, Jean had been active in the movement against domestic violence and helped establish a network of shelters for battered women in Quebec.

She pointed out that her family fled an oppressive regime in Haiti when she was a child to find freedom in Canada.

I have made it my mission to defend this freedom vigilantly," she said in her speech. "To me, denying more than half of the world's population the most basic human rights, including the right to live in security, is the most flagrant form of subjugation and one of the worst scandals of our time.

However, she noted that some have said the institution of the Governor General is archaic and "I would do well to act as little more than a figurehead. I wonder, would the same be said of a man in this position?"

Jean said it hasn't stopped her from being an activist.

"Let there be no doubt that since becoming Governor General a little over a year ago, I have only strengthened my resolve and have made it a priority to fight violence against women."

Jean said that her travels across Canada have shown her that same resolve is evident in others.

"From what I have seen, I can tell you that not only are Canadians everywhere speaking out and identifying the problems, but there are solutions coming out of every corner of this country."

But while she would like to see an international discussion on the issue, Jean also recognized that there are still hurdles to overcome on the front lines.

"Resources are tight, the problems complex, exhaustion ever present, and yet you remain as determined as ever."

She said Canada has a vital role to play in stopping violence against women.

"Women have always understood how precious life is," she said. "Women have always endeavoured to pacify the tensions that grip certain regions of the world, just as they have chosen to build strong communities rather than embrace the `every man for himself' attitude.

"To attack the dignity of women is to fly in the face of life itself, to make a mockery of humanity."