We All Deserve Freedom from Violence

This year marks 33 years since 14 young women were murdered at l’École Polytechnique in Montréal. This act of violent misogyny shook our country and led Parliament to designate December 6 as the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

On this day, we remember and honour 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, and Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz.

While December 6 is a day to remember, it is also a day of action to continue to combat the misogyny and hatred that led to the tragedy in Montreal and continues to affect women and girls today. 

Gender-based violence, including intimate partner violence, sexual violence, and emotional abuse, happens at alarming rates in Canada. According to the Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability, in 2020, 160 women and girls were killed by violence in Canada. That’s an average of one woman or girl killed every 2.3 days. And sexual assault, one of the most under-reported crimes in Canada, is also the only violent crime not on the decline (Statistics Canada, 2017).

Some people are more at risk of experiencing violence because of various forms of oppression, such as racism, colonialism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia and ableism. According to Statistics Canada, certain people are more likely to experience gender-based violence, including:

• women;
• young women and girls;
• Indigenous women, girls and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, and Asexual Plus (2SLGBTQQIA+) people;
• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual (LGB) and people of other sexual orientation than heterosexual;
• Transgender and gender diverse people;
• women living in Northern, rural, and remote communities; and,
• women living with disabilities.

Freedom from violence is a right we all deserve, but in Canada and around the world, so many women and girls continue to be denied this right. And without it, gender equality will never be achieved. We’ve had the same conversation for 33 years. Enough talking. It’s time for concrete action to end gender-based violence and build a society where we are free from violence.

CUPW encourages member to commemorate the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in any way you can. Wear a white ribbon (a symbol condemning violence against women), observe a moment of silence at 11 a.m., or attend a vigil in your community.

The Government of Canada has put together a list of resources and supports by province for people experiencing gender-based violence. Please follow the link: https://women-gender-equality.canada.ca/en/gender-based-violence-knowledge-centre/provincial-territorial-resources.html

In solidarity,