Day 1 - 16 days of Activism against Gender Violence

Day 1

International Day for the Elimination
of Violence Against Women

A letter to the Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women:

Prime Minister Harper,

Today marks the 10th anniversary of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. I wish I could say that over the last 10 years, violence against women has decreased substantially around the world, but this is, sadly, not true. The United Nations estimates that up to 70% of women experience violence from men during their lifetime. Amnesty International estimates that 1 in 3 women worldwide is a victim of beating, rape, torture or attack.

Even in countries, such as Canada, which may show a decrease in the rates of violence against women, we must keep in mind that many women do not report incidents of violence. Why? I think it is because they are not receiving adequate support from the police, the courts, and Canadian society as a whole.

Prime Minister, we are approaching the 20th anniversary of the Montreal Massacre (Dec. 6) and I would very much appreciate it if you would make a public stand against gender violence and announce increased public funding for shelters for victims of abuse, sexual assault and rape crisis centres, and prevention programs in schools and post-secondary institutions across Canada. I also want Canada to dedicate more funding for organizations, programs, and projects which address violence against women in other countries, in particular sexual violence during conflict, such as General Referral Hospital of Panzi (GRHP) in Bukavu, the capital city of the South Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo which provides treatment for women and girls that have been subjected to some of the worst forms of sexual violence imaginable.

Canada needs to take a clear, decisive, and meaningful stand against gender violence. Thank you and I look forward to hearing your announcement in the coming days.

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Further reading and information:

UNiTE to End Violence against Women is a global call for action, launched in November 2009, on ending violence against women and girls.

Violence Against Women Factsheet, World Health Organization (WHO)

Gender Based Violence, WHO.

16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence, Pambazuka News

United Nations Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict (UN Action), Stop Rape Now (Note: Video/Audio intro)

General Referral Hospital of Panzi (GRHP), Democratic Republic of Congo

20 Days - 20 Ways to End Violence Against Women, Canadian Labour Congress

Violence Against Women: Statistical Trends, Statistics Canada

Violence Against Aboriginal Women in Canada, Sisters in Spirit, Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC)

Violence envers les femmes autochtones au Canada, Sœurs par l’esprit,
L’Association des femmes autochtones du Canada (AFAC)

Violence against immigrant women, Immigrant Women Services Ottawa

Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres

Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women / Coalition d'Ottawa contre la violence faite aux femmes

Video footage on the massacre at l'École Polytechnique in Montreal, December 6, 1989, from CBC's digital archives