November 25, 2021

Statement on International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

A third of women in Canada report experiencing sexual assault at least once. We know this is a low-estimate and that Disabled women, Indigenous women, Two-Spirit, trans and non-binary people, and women who are unhoused experience even greater rates of violence. The normalization of these human rights abuses is all too common in Canada, from the state police violence perpetrated against Indigenous Elders and Matriarchs protecting their territories to Disabled women being legislated into poverty. Gender-based violence is preventable, there simply must be the political will to do so.

November 25th marks International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the launch of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, concluding on December 10th, International Human Rights Day.

If the federal government is serious about preventing gender-based violence, they can begin by immediately investing in women's organizations, low barrier shelter spaces for individuals experiencing violence, and implement a national action plan to address gender based violence. Moreover, the government needs to immediately implement the 231 Calls for Justice of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, which includes a permanent guaranteed livable basic income (Call for Justice 4.5). The Women’s Legal and Education Action Fund’s ( LEAF) highlight the importance of a GLBI in two new reports: “Basic Income, Gender & Disability” and “Basic Income & The Care Economy”. A GLBI will save lives and the time to act is now.

Contact:

Leah Gazan

(204) 984-1675

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