Students remember and continue to challenge sexism and misogyny on campuses across Canada.
"On December 6, we mark the day that fourteen women were murdered on their campus because of their gender," said Bilan Arte, National Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students. "A full generation later, gender-based violence and discrimination persists in our communities, including on college and university campuses."
Gender-based violence is the most widespread and persistent human rights violation in the world, disproportionately targeting women of colour, Indigenous women and girls, two spirited people, women with disabilities, and LGBTQ people, especially trans women of colour. In Canada more than 50% of women will experience violence at some point in their lives, most before the age of 25. In a given year, more than one of every ten Canadian women suffer physical abuse at the hands of their partners and 25% of women undergraduate students experience some form of sexual assault.
"Students will not stand by while our institutions fail to both support survivors and take action to prevent violence," added Arte. "From pushing for crucial legislation across all provinces to prevent sexual violence on campuses, winning in Manitoba in November, to playing a key role in the development of a national strategy to end gender-based violence in Canada, students are driving actions to end sexual and gender-based violence on our campuses."
Established in 1991 by the Parliament of Canada, December 6 is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. This day marks the anniversary of the 1989 École Polytechnique murders.
