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CFUW and its 100 Clubs Across Canada Mobilize for the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence
CFUW and its 100 clubs across Canada are marking November 25th, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and getting involved in the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence from November 25 to December 10. CFUW clubs will be hosting a series of events and generating actions across Canada such as panel discussions, outreach to women’s shelters, orange wearing days in honour of victims of gun violence, art expositions that highlight issues of gender-based violence, joint letter signings, social media campaigns, and commemorative vigils to raise awareness in their community and call for mobilization to end violence against women and girls.
“In light of the ongoing national tragedy of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, the continuing culture of sexual harassment on Canadian campuses and in the workplace, and the reports and testimonies from women and girls who have been submitted to torture in the domestic sphere, there is an urgent need for concerted actions from our federal, provincial and local governments,” said Grace Hollett, President of the Canadian Federation of University Women.
Over the next year, Canada needs to generate defining actions to address violence against women and girls.
Welcoming the new National Housing Strategy and looking ahead to the release of the National Poverty Reduction Strategy and the 2018 Budget, Hollett underlines: “Instrumental in reducing women’s vulnerability to violence are such measures as additional funding to focused indigenous and other women’s organizations, culturally sensitive services and shelters, accessible, affordable and safe housing and accessible, affordable, universal childcare."
CFUW welcomes Canada’s National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security and stays attentive to its implementation to generate women’s full participation and empowerment in peace-building and conflict prevention and address conflict related sexual-violence in fragile and conflict-affected states.
CFUW stands with its international and national partners, in continuing to advocate for policies and programs that recognize and work to eliminate, the systemic nature of violence against women and girls. This violence is rooted in sexism, racism, socio-economic inequalities and colonialism. We recognize that we must all address the additional barriers faced by women who are Indigenous, living in poverty, racialized, disabled, or individuals who are part of the LGBTQI2S community.
As Canada is scheduled for its third review under the United Nations Universal Periodic Review in April/May 2018, CFUW submitted a shadow report assessing Canada's commitments to ending violence against women. “We look forward to this review and to further substantive commitment from the Government of Canada especially a comprehensive implementation of its strategy to reduce gender-based violence (GBV) that includes adequate funding, and clear and measurable targets and that takes into account extreme forms of GBV such as torture committed in the domestic sphere.”
To learn more about CFUW’s involvement in the 16 days of activism and our events, consult our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/cfuw.fcfdu. You can also consult the full list of the events for the 16 days on the WIIS Canada website http://www.wiiscanada.org/16-days-canada-2017-calendar/
About CFUW
Founded in 1919, the Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) is a self-funded, non-partisan, non-profit, voluntary organization. Close to 8400 CFUW women from across Canada promote women’s equality, human rights, justice and peace. CFUW is active in public affairs, working to raise the social, economic and legal status of women and girls and to contribute to education, the environment, peace, justice and human rights. CFUW has special consultative status at the United Nations (ECOSOC) and serves on the Education Committee of the Canadian Sub-Commission to UNESCO. |
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