"The Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, has stated, 'Violence against women continues to persist as one of the most heinous, systematic and prevalent human rights abuses in the world. It is a threat to all women and an obstacle to our efforts for development, peace and gender equality in our society," said Diane Beaulieu, executive director of local shelter, Halton Women's Place.

"The Halton Regional Police Service is number one when it comes to solving violent crimes and that's because of two things. Obviously the fine men and women of the police service starting from the chief on down, but it's also because of the community because they (the police) can't do it alone. Things like Crime Stoppers and all of the other programs allows them to be successful," said [Gary Carr].

Despite [Maclean]'s magazine singing the region's praises three years in a row, Halton Police Chief Gary Crowell said there is so much more that needs to be done with many Halton women still enduring abusive relationships.