Today is National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.
It is a day to commemorate the murders of 14 women at Polytechnique Montréal, who were killed because of their gender.
Facts:
- National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women was established in Canada in 1991 to honour the 14 women who were murdered in 1989.
- 14 women died and 14 others were injured in the name of “fighting feminism.”
- While violence affects people of all genders, ages, religions, cultures, ethnicities, and socio-economic backgrounds, populations more at risk of gender-based violence include women, young women and girls, Indigenous peoples, 2SLGBTQ+ and gender diverse people, women living in Northern, rural, and remote communities, and women living with disabilities.
- In Canada, women are more likely than men to experience intimate partner violence. According to data collected in 2018, 44% of women reported experiencing some form of intimate partner violence in their lifetime.
- Canadians are encouraged to observe a minute of silence on December 6 and to wear a white ribbon as a commitment to end violence against women.
- December 6 stands for awareness and change against violence that occurs to women all around the world.
We remember:
Geneviève Bergeron
Hélène Colgan
Nathalie Croteau
Barbara Daigneault
Anne-Marie Edward
Maud Haviernick
Maryse Laganière
Maryse Leclair
Anne-Marie Lemay
Sonia Pelletier
Michèle Richard
Annie St-Arneault
Annie Turcotte
Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz
Resources:
Government of Canada – The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women
Government of Canada – What is Gender Based Violence?
Government of Canada – Key Statistics on Gender-Based Violence
Today we grieve the loss of lives due to femicide. Achieving a world free from gender-based violence requires everyone to educate themselves on gender-based violence, centre the voices of survivors, and speak up against violent behaviours.
