Today Is The National Day Of Remembrance And Action On Violence Against Women

Social Issues

December 6, 2012

On December 6, 1989, 14 women were singled out for their gender and murdered at École Polytechnique in Montreal.

In 1991, the Parliament of Canada established December 6 as the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

The day has become a focal point for efforts to end violence against women.

The Status of Women Canada website says "December 6 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."

A number of organizations are taking the opportunity to highlight these issues in Canada.

The YWCA runs the Rose Campaign each year. It's named for the Rose button (pictured left) that was created 22 years ago to commemorate the 14 women who were murdered on December 6.

The Rose Campaign is designed to raise awareness of violence against women. On their website, the YWCA cites the statistic that "over 50 per cent of Canadian women will experience and incident of violence at some point in their lives, the majority before they turn 25."

They ask supporters to get involved by sending an email to their MP, wearing the Rose button, and speaking up about violence in their communities. There's a full list of ways to take action on their site.

Another organization commemorating December 6 is White Ribbon, one of the world's largest movements of men and boys working to end violence against women and girls..

This year, there's a White Ribbon campaign called 'Be a Man'.

It calls on men to share a photograph of a #manhug on Twitter to promote a "new code of manhood": one that encourages men "to play a powerful, positive role in the world."