12 Days of Action to Combat Violence Against Women 2024
Let's Put an End to All Forms of Violence Against Women and Children!
On November 25, the Committee for
the 12 Days of Action against Violence Against Women launched
the 2024 campaign in Quebec under the theme "Neither Online nor
Offline: Let's Fight Against Gendered Cyberviolence." The
committee writes: "Gendered cyberviolence is a covert but
pernicious scourge. It affects women as well as people from
gender or religious minorities or those with disabilities, in
all aspects of their daily lives. With the massive rise of
digital technology, this violence is increasing and taking on
ever more varied forms, manifesting itself in virtual public
spaces such as social networks, online games and forums, but
also in private exchanges."
Events are being held by women's organizations, rights groups, unions, and municipalities from November 25 until December 6, from Saint-Jean-de-Matha to Quebec City, from Gatineau to Joliette. They include marches, discussions, conferences, film screenings, and commemorative ceremonies. The organizing and events are creating the space to reaffirm their determination to end all forms of violence against them, their children, and all members of society. To see the program in French, click here.
Origins of the Days of Action
In 1999, November 25 was declared the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women by the United Nations General Assembly. It called on governments and organizations to take action to raise awareness of this social scourge that threatens the lives, safety and hopes for equality of women. November 25 commemorates the assassination of the Mirabal sisters, three political activists from the Dominican Republic who were brutally murdered in 1960 for their work opposing the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo. November 25 also marks the beginning of the internationally recognized 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, which ends on December 10, International Human Rights Day.
In Quebec, the 12 Days of Action Against Violence Against Women campaign has been held from November 25 to December 6 every year since 2008. December 6 marks the anniversary of the massacre at the École Polytechnique de Montréal in 1989, when an individual targeting women, shot and killed 14 women and injured ten women and four men. The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women was established by the Canadian Parliament in 1991 to mark this anniversary. Everyone is invited to wear a white ribbon for the day. This year marks the 35th anniversary of the massacre.
The 14 women whose memory is honoured on December 6 are: Geneviève Bergeron, 21, Hélène Colgan, 23, Nathalie Croteau, 23, Barbara Daigneault, 22, Anne-Marie Edward, 21, Maud Haviernick, 29, Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz, 31, Maryse Laganière, 25, Maryse Leclair, 23, Anne-Marie Lemay, 27, Sonia Pelletier, 28, Michèle Richard, 21, Annie St-Arneault, 23, and Annie Turcotte, 21.
The Fight to End All Forms of Violence
Days of action against violence against women, Quebec City
action November 25, 2023
Women and their collectives have long since identified that the main source of violence is the fact that while they participate in production and reproduction in society, they are excluded from participation in making the decisions that affect them as women, mothers, workers and members of society. In a society where the rights of wealthy private interests reign, human beings are considered disposable, and women are the first victims of the brutality of the ruling elite. This is the social problem that everyone seeks to solve. Political and economic arrangements must be renewed so that everyone is an equal member of the polity. Society must uphold everyone's right to an income that allows them to live in dignity, to have a roof over their heads, to have access to health care and education as well as social programs, as well as the right to live in peace, security and without worry for themselves and their families, and the right to participate in all matters that concern them so as to advance the development of women and all human beings.
The contrast between women's demands to humanize society and the brutality of neo-liberal governments is flagrant. The Trudeau government has given as the theme of this year's 12 Days of Action campaign: "Unite to Act." Condescendingly they say this "underscores the importance of mobilizing all Canadians -- especially men and boys -- to change the social norms, attitudes, and behaviours that contribute to gender-based violence. It is also a call to action that invites us to recognize the signs of gender-based violence and to seek help, for ourselves or for those we love."
This self-serving conception that it is individuals and their behaviour that is to blame for violence against women frees governments from any social and collective responsibility. For them, the issue is having everyone undergo awareness training and educate themselves in order to understand how to behave better! Meanwhile, governments brutally divert social wealth to pay the rich, destroy social programs, and intensify war production in service of the U.S. war machine, a violent and anti-social agenda.
At well-calculated moments, particularly when elections are involved, governments in both Quebec and Canada announce subsidy programs to cover-up social crises, such as in housing and health care. Monies are given to this or that section of society according to the criteria the governments impose, forcing advocacy organizations including women's groups to beg or compete with each other to survive. It does not solve the problems.
Women and their organizations fight in all aspects of life against the violence of a society that does not defend the rights of all, defending their rights as human beings and their rights as women. They demand an end to the anti-social offensive, a new direction for the economy, full participation in society and the power to decide on all issues that concern them. This is the vision and direction they are giving to their struggles.
This article was published in
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/ITN2024/Articles/TI54621.HTM
Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca