Interim Place mourns death of Riya Rajkumar in tragic example of men’s violence against women

February 21, 2019 · 0 Comments

Interim Place is deeply saddened to learn of the murder of 11-year-old Riya Rajkumar. Riya was spending her birthday on a custodial visit with her father, Roopesh Rajkumar, yesterday.

Riya’s mother called the police because, according to police sources, “Roopesh had made contact with the mother and made concerning comments about harming himself and his daughter.” Late last night Riya was found dead and her father was arrested. Interim Place mourns for Riya, and our hearts go out to her mother and loved ones.

“This is every mother’s worst fear.” Said Rebecca Rogers, Manager of Programs and Services with Interim Place. “Sadly, one of the ways men use power and control over women is through threatening or harming her children. This is a form of violence against women.”

While the threat and reality of violence are a seemingly inescapable aspect of women’s lives, we must be relentless in our work to actively challenge gender-based violence, because another world must be possible. Interim Place urges our community to speak up and challenge violence whenever you see it; if you see or suspect a woman is experiencing violence offer her your support, believe her experiences and share information about available resources. This is our collective responsibility. We must work together to create a safe and just society for all women. This violence must stop.

If you or any woman you know is in need of support, please contact Interim Place’s 24-hour crisis line at 905-403-0864. Remember that you are not alone, and you have a right to safety and to receive support.

About Interim Place

Interim Place is an anti-violence organization providing shelter, counselling and advocacy supports for women, youth and children experiencing violence in the Region of Peel. Interim Place is committed to ending violence against women by acknowledging and addressing the multitude of barriers facing women who have experienced violence and by providing crisis intervention and a range of supports and services. Interim Place works within a feminist, anti-oppressive, anti-racist, queer and trans positive, disability positive, harm reduction framework.