16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that begins on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and goes until December 10, Human Rights Day. Included within this period is the National Day for Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, a memorial held in communities across Canada to honour the lives of the 14 women killed at Montreal’s École Polytechnique in 1989.
This year the SVPS Centre wants to bring reflective, community-based conversations on gender-based violence prevention directly to your faculties, departments, and student clubs. With that in-mind, we’ve created this discussion guide to support those important conversations.
We’ll also be meeting in-person on Friday, Dec. 5, at the Ziibiing Pavilion. Firekeepers will be present to tend to a ceremonial fire, and white roses will be available to honour those lost to gender-based violence. You may choose to dedicate your rose and leave it on the adjacent benches, or take it with you as a reminder of your commitment to action.
Following this brief memorial, all participants are welcome to join in a self-guided walk around campus to other points of interest. If you would like to participate in this walk on your own time, a guide is available below.
The eradication of gender-based violence is collective work. We encourage you to make time for this conversation and to identify clear follow-up actions that are both personal and professional in order to continue this effort beyond these 16 days, with each other.
4 Ways to Take Action
- Book time with classmates and/or colleagues to engage with the Guided Dialogue & Self-Reflection resource.
- Join us in-person at the Ziibiing Pavilion on Friday, Dec. 5, to honour the lives of the 14 women killed at Montreal’s École Polytechnique.
- Take a self-guided tour of reflective spaces on campus.
- Join the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering as they mark the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. You can visit the lobby of the Galbraith Building on Dec 5 and Dec. 8 (11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.), or join them in-person on the evening of Saturday, Dec. 6, at 5 p.m. for a memorial ceremony. They will also have a memorial structure in-place outside of Galbraith until Dec. 13.