Today, November 25th, marks the first day of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence. The 16 days also include the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in Canada (December 6th) and International Human Rights Day (December 10th).
Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, which has been informally recognized since 1981 and was officially designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 1999. November 25th is the anniversary of the 1960 murder of the three of the four Mirabal sisters, political activists in the Dominican Republic, on orders of dictator Rafael Trujillo, whose rule they were fighting to end.
“Violence against women and girls takes many forms and is widespread throughout the globe. […] On this International Day, I urge governments and partners around the world to harness the energy, ideas and leadership of young people to help us to end this pandemic of violence. Only then will we have a more just, peaceful and equitable world” (UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon).
The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in Canada was established in 1991 to mark the anniversary of the murders of 14 young women at l’École Polytechnique de Montréal on December 6th, 1989.
During the massacre at l’École Polytechnique, also known as the Montreal Massacre, Marc Lépine entered the university armed with a legally obtained rifle and a hunting knife. During his attack, Lépine separated the male and female students, claiming that he was “fighting feminism”. He killed 14 women and injured 14 other people, including four men.
According to the Status of Women Canada, “as well as commemorating the 14 young women whose lives ended in an act of gender-based violence that shocked the nation, December 6th represents an opportunity for Canadians to reflect on the phenomenon of violence against women in our society. It is also an opportunity to consider the women and girls for whom violence is a daily reality, and to remember those who have died as a result of gender-based violence. And finally, it is a day on which communities can consider concrete actions to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls”.
International Human Rights Day was is the anniversary of the day that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the first global enunciation of human rights was adopted and proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. International Human Rights Day was formally established in 1950.
World AIDS Day, December 1st, also falls during the 16 Days.
What can you do during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence?