16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence: Come Together, Act Now
November 25, 2024 – Defence Stories
Estimated read time - 3:00
The following information may bring up difficult emotions. If you or someone you know needs support, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Sexual Misconduct Support Resource Center's 24/7 Response and Support Line at 1-844-750-1648 where you can speak with a counsellor.
The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is an international campaign that provides people around the world with an opportunity to come together to call out, speak up against, and renew our commitment to end gender-based violence.
The campaign begins on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until December 10, which is Human Rights Day. The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women is also observed in Canada to remember the women who were murdered during the mass shooting at Polytechnique Montréal on December 6, 1989.
You are invited to take a moment during the 16 Days of Activism campaign to reflect on ways to end gender-based violence (GBV). Whether against partners, family members, friends, colleagues or strangers, GBV has no place in our society or in the Defence Team. The negative effects of GBV reach far beyond the individuals who directly experience them: GBV affects everyone.
Those at risk
While GBV is a violation of human rights, it is a tragic reality for many who regularly endure violence because of their gender, gender expression, gender identity, or perceived gender. Violence can take many forms, including cyber, physical, sexual, societal, psychological, emotional, and economic.
Individuals most at risk of facing GBV include women, young women and girls, Indigenous Peoples, 2SLGBTQ2I+ and gender-diverse people, women living in Northern, rural, and remote communities, and women living with disabilities. GBV can affect people of different genders, ages, religions, cultures, ethnicities, geographic locations, and socio-economic backgrounds. GBV concerns all of us.
Taking action and finding help
Everyone can each play a role in ending GBV. Each Defence Team member can contribute to improving our workplace through education, by speaking up against harmful behaviour, discrimination, and harassment, and by creating and supporting initiatives that seek to end GBV.
New learning tools, like the Sexual and Gender-based Violence Spectrum can help everyone recognize acceptable behaviours that contribute to a safe and inclusive workplace and supports a stronger Defence Team. Upcoming changes to DAOD 5014-0, Workplace Harassment and Violence Prevention (WHVP) in 2025, will streamline the Defence Team's prevention and resolutions strategies, policies, training, and service delivery. These changes will provide a unified approach so that the WHVP program is consistent for Department of National Defence public servants and Canadian Armed Forces members.
You can add your voice to the larger conversation by using hashtag #16Days on social media. Stay tuned for other informative articles and tools over the next 16 days. For the duration of the campaign, NDHQ Carling will be illuminated in purple, the official colour of the 16 Days of Activism for ending GBV.
If you or anyone you know has experienced or is experiencing GBV, help exists. In addition to the Sexual Misconduct Support and Resources Centre, Defence Team members have access to a number of services that can provide immediate care, support, or medical assistance. Support is also available in your communities through civilian service providers. Please seek help if you need to. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect.
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