FST marks 16 days of activism
November 21, 2019
December is an important month for raising awareness of gender-based violence in Canada and around the world.
It is every woman’s fundamental right to live in safety and security in her home and community – free from the threat of violence, sexual assault, elder abuse and other forms of aggression.
About one third of all women worldwide experience either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime, according to the World Health Organization.
Sixteen Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence begins Nov. 25 with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and ends Dec. 10, with International Human Rights Day. Also included in the 16 days are International Women Human Rights Defenders Day on November 29; World AIDS Day on December 1 and Canada’s National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women on Dec. 6 – when in 1989, 14 women were murdered because they were women.
In 2019, the theme for this year’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, is Orange the World: Generation Equality Stands against Rape! Earlier this year, Family ServiceToronto Counsellor Rabila Attai, who works with our Violence Against Women unit, spoke to Afghan men and women, about gender-based violence. See an excerpt of her speech and transcript.