British Columbia, like the rest of the world, is no stranger to violence against women. Most notably, a national inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women and girls is investigating more than 1,200 women who have disappeared or have been killed, many of them while travelling on B.C.’s “Highway of Tears.”
Across Canada, more than 60,000 women and girls are victims of family violence, and every day, one woman in Canada is killed by a family member.
Globally, 603 million women live in countries where domestic violence is not a crime.
To help focus attention on this issue, the City of Victoria has joined the United Nations campaign UNiTE to End Violence Against Women.
This 16-day campaign started Nov. 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and ends Dec. 10, Human Rights Day. Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps proclaimed Nov. 25 as UNiTE To End Violence Against Women Day, at the request of the Grandmothers Advocacy Network, in order to encourage our fellow Victorians to call for political commitments, action and funding to end this global pandemic.
The campaign aims to “Orange the World,” with orange symbolizing a brighter future, one without violence against women. Also at GRAN’s request, orange lights now brighten the Centennial Square fountain, and the provincial government has installed orange lights in the ceremonial entrance to the legislature building and in the front fountain.
Similar displays have been organized in cities across Canada and in more than 90 countries around the world.
As the City of Victoria proclamation states, violence against women and girls is pervasive around the world, and takes many forms, including physical, emotional and sexual violence, deprivation, bullying, discrimination, harassment and neglect of older women.
In Canada, violence against women is disproportionately experienced by indigenous women. Elsewhere in the world, and especially in sub-Saharan Africa, violence against women takes different forms, including child, early and forced marriage; violence in schools; female genital mutilation; and sexual violence in conflict zones. Rape is often used as a weapon of war.
“It is more dangerous now to be a woman than a soldier in modern wars,” said Maj.-Gen. Patrick Cammaert who led the UN mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says: “Break the silence. When you witness violence against women, do not sit back. Act.”
Action to end violence against women is increasing; there is less tolerance and more condemnation of language or actions which condone violence.
There are many organizations in Victoria and in B.C. that support women in crisis and are working to end violence. One example is the group Ending Violence Association of B.C., which has partnered with the B.C. Lions football team in a ground-breaking program entitled Be More Than a Bystander.
And yet there is still a lack of resources and political commitments to take on this challenge. Violence against women is a violation of basic human rights. Therefore, a key goal of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and other types of exploitation.
The 16-days-of-activism campaign is a step forward in meeting that goal. It is time speak up to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, to uphold their human rights and to leave no one behind.
Two events mark the 16 days of activism in Victoria. On Nov. 25, there was a candlelight vigil sponsored by GRAN on the steps of the legislature building. The second event takes place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, when everyone is invited to attend the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women at First Metropolitan United Church, 932 Balmoral Rd.
The Grandmothers Advocacy Network includes volunteers from across Canada who support grandmothers in sub-Saharan Africa. We advocate for policies that increase access to medicines and to education, and work to end violence against women.
Anne Young and Phyllis Webster are with the Grandmothers Advocacy Network.
