On December 6th, 1989, 14 young women from Polytechnique Montréal, were massacred in an act of violent misogyny. In 1991, Parliament established this day of mourning (December 6th) as the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women which is informally known as White Ribbon Day.
On this day, we remember and take a moment to honour those who lost their lives to gender-based violence:
- 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
Gender-based violence remains prominent world-wide. The latest report from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and the UN Women shows that femicide is rising around the world. This type of violence disproportionately impacts those with multiple intersection grounds of oppression. For example, Indigenous women are six times more likely to be killed than non-Indigenous women.
Much more needs to be done to prevent violence against women, to stop its escalation and provide adequate services to survivors and punish perpetrators.
Actions you can take:
- Wear a white ribbon
- Observe a moment of silence at 11:00 AM
- Attend a vigil in our community
- Share a National Day of Remembrance Post
- 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence (From November 25th to December 10th) and use the #16Days
- End Impunity by holding perpetrators accountable and establishing zero tolerance of violence against women and girls
- Adopt, implement and fund National Action Plans to end violence against women and girls
- Invest in prevention and women’s rights organizations to ensure rights and access to essential services for survivors
- Learn more about gender-based violence:
- 16 ways to end gender-based violence
- Attend an event in your community to show your support to victims and survivors
- Consider donating to a local shelter
This is a day to reflect on violence against women in our society. It is a day on which communities and individuals can come together, speak out, and take action to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls. We must remain committed to a future without violence against women.
Mireille Jaillet
UNE National Equity Representative for Women