The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence is an international campaign originating from the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute sponsored by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership in 1991.
Participants chose the dates November 25 – December 10 in order to symbolically link violence against women and human rights and to emphasize that such violence is a violation of human rights.
Internationally, the 16 day period includes:
November 25:International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
November 29: International Women Human Rights Defender Day
December 1:World AIDS Day
December 3:International Day of Disabled Persons
December 6:The Anniversary of the Montreal Massacre.
December 10:International Human Rights Day
Mission
The 16 Days Campaign has been used as an organizing strategy by individuals and groups around the world to call for the elimination of all forms of violence against women by:
- raising awareness about gender-based violence as a human rights issue at the local, national, regional and international levels
- strengthening local work around violence against women
- establishing a clear link between local and international work to end violence against women
- providing a forum in which organizers can develop and share new and effective strategies
- demonstrating the solidarity of women around the world organizing against violence against women
- creating tools to pressure governments to implement promises made to eliminate violence against women
2015 Events in Thunder Bay
November 25th Bake Sale and Bead In!
On November 25th, the GIC, WGSSA (Women’s and Gender Studies Students Association), and Aboriginal Awareness Centre will be hosting a bake sale and bead in in the Agora from 10am – 3pm. We are looking for volunteers to donate baked goods which can be sold; all proceeds from the bake sale will be donated to Faye Peterson House. If you want to donate something, it would be much appreciated – donations can be dropped off at the table in the Agora at 10am or can be brought to the GIC the night before.
Speak Up: Session on Advocacy for all Women
Join Thunder Bay’s Unifor Women’s Committee on November 28th for a Speak Up: Session on Advocacy for all Women at the Victoriaville Mall from 9:30-2pm. This session focuses on violence against women and how violence affects more than just the individuals directly involved. Learn how to work with and not for the victim, learn how to recognize women experiencing violence and how to intervene and help. Guest speaker is Gwen O’Reilly from the Northwestern Ontario Women’s Centre. This event is free and lunch is provided. Be sure to call 807-474-4229 to register before November 25th.
World AIDS Day Film Screening
You are invited to join Elevate NWO to mark World AIDS Day on Tuesday, December 1st with a Lunch, Panel and Movie. A catered lunch will be provided during a panel discussion, moderated by Lisa Laco, that will focus on the impact of HIV both personally and professionally in Thunder Bay, past and present. This will be followed by a screening of the Academy Award winning movie, Philadelphia, starring Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington. The panel will begin at 12pm, with the movie screening from 1:30-3:30. Admission is free, but registration is required to do so go here: http://wad2015tbay.eventbrite.ca or for more information check out Elevate NWO’s webpage here www.elevatenwo.org
More Resources and Links
Wrapped In Courage
Electronic abuse/exploitation: