December 6 - National Day of Remembrance & Action on Violence Against Women

The National Day of Remembrance & Action on Violence Against Women is commemorated on December 6.

On December 6, 1989 fourteen (14) female engineering students at l'École Polytechnique de Montréal were murdered by an act of gender-based violence. On this date we commemorate the lives of all women who have experienced gender-based violence.

December 6 is a date that we re-affirm our commitment to take action and help all women who experience gender-based violence.

The following statistics illuminate the experiences of women, girls, 2SLGBTQQIA and gender diverse individuals in Canada:

• More than one (1) in three (3) women experience domestic violence through their lifetime.
• Indigenous women are killed at six (6) times the rate of non-Indigenous women.
• Persons with disabilities are between 50% and 100% more likely than those without disabilities to have experienced violence by a spouse.
• A woman is killed by her intimate partner approximately every six (6) days.
• Trans women are almost twice as likely as cisgender women to experience gender-based violence in their lifetime.
  (Public Service Alliance of Canada, 2019)

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in Canada

We remind everyone of the statistics of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in Canada:

• Indigenous women make up 16% of all female homicide victims, and 11% of missing women, even though Indigenous people make up 4.3% of the population of Canada.
• The 2014 RCMP Operational Overview notes that police recorded 1,017 incidents of Aboriginal female homicides between 1980 and 2012 and 164 missing Aboriginal female investigations dating back to 1952.  There have been a number of reports indicating numbers are significantly higher.
• Current public data on MMIWG oversimplifies and underrepresents the scale of the issue, yet still demonstrates a complex and pervasive pattern of violence against Indigenous women and girls who are often targeted because of their gender and Indigenous identity.
• Violence against Indigenous women and girls is systemic and a national crisis that requires urgent, informed and collaborative action.

White Ribbon Day

“White Ribbon Day”: Created in 1991, coincides with the National Day of Remembrance & Action on Violence Against Women –it is a call to action to men.

Men wear white ribbons as a “pledge to never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women and girls” (White Ribbon, 2020).

White Ribbon is the world’s largest movement of men and boys working to end violence against women and girls, promote gender equity, healthy relationships and a new vision of masculinity. Since its inception in Toronto in 1991, The White Ribbon Campaign has spread to over 60 countries around the world (White Ribbon, 2020).

COVID-19 & Intimate Partner Violence

Across Canada and the world Intimate partner violence (domestic violence) has increased by 20% to 30% since the COVID-19 pandemic (Norton Rose Fulbright LLP).

With many women forced to remain in their homes during the worldwide lockdowns and closings of public spaces and job sites, a third pandemic has arisen. Women are isolated and left with only help lines for assistance.

Support & Crisis Help Lines

If you or someone you know is experiencing violence, support and crisis help lines can be found through the following organizations:

1. Disabled Women’s Network of Canada (DAWN)
2. DRAW THE LINE
3. Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres (OCRCC)
4. Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres
5. Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services
6. Talk4Healing: A Helpline for Aboriginal Women
7. Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic