Tis the season to end gendered violence
Take a stand for the right of women and children to live free from violence – whether it's psychical, psychological, financial, in-person or online.
November is Woman Abuse Prevention Month and everyone is encouraged to wear purple to shine a light on gender-based violence. Communities are also showing support by lighting up city halls, piers and other noteworthy structures in hues of purple.
Violence continues to be the greatest gender inequality rights issue for women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals.
Indigenous, Black, South Asian and South East Asian women and girls continue to experience high rates of violence and were over represented in the Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses (OAITH) Annual Femicide list for 2021 – 2022.
Every seven days a woman or child loses their life to femicide in Ontario. In October alone, there were nine femicides across the province. At the time of writing, over 55 femicides had been committed in Ontario since November 26, 2022. That number is expected to be even higher when OAITH releases the 2023 Annual Femicide List on November 25, 2023.
Femicide is not only an epidemic in Ontario, but a pandemic right across the country and around the globe.
November 25th is the United Nations (UN) International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women as well as the launch of the UN 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
This year’s campaign theme is “UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls.”
The campaign calls on individuals and grassroots groups to show their commitment to ending violence against women and girls by sharing actions they are taking to make this happen.
This year's campaign also calls on governments worldwide to share how they are investing in gender-based violence prevention.
UN research proves that supporting and investing in woman’s rights organizations is key to ending violence against women and girls. The data also shows that a strong, autonomous feminist movement is the most critical factor driving policy change to end gendered violence domestically and globally.
Approximately, 78 per cent of countries have budgetary commitments to implement legislation addressing violence against women. Yet, a mere one per cent of gender-focused state aid is directed to independent feminist organizations. Funding has not improved despite increased need and only one quarter of countries have systems to track budget allocations for gender equality.
The Ford government has a well-established history of cutting funding to organizations helping women living with, leaving and recovering from gendered violence.
First, it was the cancellation of the Ontario Basic Income Pilot immediately after taking office. The pilot not only raised women and their children out of poverty, it moved Ontarians closer towards gender equity, while giving women living in abusive relationships the financial means to leave and stay out.
Ford stopped minimum wage increases and began decimating Ontario Works (OW) and Ontario Disability Support Payment (ODSP) programs.
Then, Ford came after rape crisis centres cutting their funding.
And, what ever happened to the roll out of Ontario’s $10-a-day childcare?
Now, Ford’s government is refusing to declare intimate partner violence (IPV) an epidemic. Ford is drawing that line in the sand despite the fact that over 70 communities have declared IPV an epidemic.
Many of those communities made that declaration in response to the Culleton, Kuzyk and Warmerdam (CKW) inquest into the triple femicide.
Carol Culleton, Anastasia Kuzyk, and Nathalie Warmerdam were murdered in September 2015 by a man known to each of the women. The inquest that looked into the femicides issued 86 recommendations with 68 of those directed at the provincial government.
Ford failed to acknowledge the report and the 68 provincial recommendations until July 1, 2023 – one full year after the inquiry recommendations were released. Then, Ford only committed to exploring investments and opportunities to improve current systems; enhance training; and stabilize funding to IPV service providers – but that does not necessarily mean increasing funding rates at all let alone to levels that reflect the urgency of the IPV epidemic.
Inquest recommendations are non-biding and to date the Ford government has not implemented a single recommendation.
In November 2023, the Canadian government together with the Ontario government established the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence in Ontario. Both levels of government have pledged a one-time combined $162 million over four years to implement the plan.
That’s $40.5 million per year. Spread over 400 organizations that would be $101,250 per year to address ‘staffing and other pressures’ as the Ontario Minister of Children, Community and Social Services Michael Parsa stated in a press release.
That picture perfect scenario assumes that gender-based violence agencies will be given the full $162 million dollars to help end this epidemic. Unfortunately, the Ford government’s history proves its loath to part with money to help Ontarians preferring instead to hoard it or redirect it toward privatization of healthcare, education and oversight policing of ODSP and OW.
The agencies impacted by this decision are concerned by the lack of provincial communication detailing how this money will be distributed and used. They are also apprehensive due to the dearth information around expected outcomes and the metrics the Ford government will implement to measure success. And, of course, there’s concern that these essential, life-saving services will be negatively impacted without a long term vision and transparent plan to ensure funding doesn’t dry up once the four-year plan comes to an end.
A very simple response to the Ford government’s inaction is to let Ford know that there is #NoExcuse for refusing to declare IPV an epidemic, nor to delay or skimp on investments that prevent violence against women and girls and femicides.
Be sure to wear orange to support this year’s UN Orange the World campaign that concludes aptly on December 10 – Human Rights Day.
Over the years, readers have had a difficult time getting their heads around whether they should be wearing purple or orange at the end of November and beginning of December. Truthfully, it really doesn’t matter whether you wear purple or orange or both, just make sure that you take action to support those living with, leaving and recovering from gender-based violence.
Purchase a one-of-a-kind fair-trade hand-made Wrapped in Courage purple scarf from a local agency or directly from OAITH here. The campaign acknowledges that the strength of one woman leaving an abusive relationship is not enough because it takes an entire caring community.
Wear your scarf with pride and when a coworker, friend, family member or community leader comments on how beautiful it is you can let them know why you support the #purplescarf campaign and what your scarf means to you.
Check out mulberryfinder.ca and learn about the supports and services available in your community so you’re prepared to support someone experiencing harm.
Check out the resources, research and online training offered by the Centre for Research and Education on Violence Against Women and Children (CREVAWC).
The CREVAWC, founded in 1992, is a collaborative venture between The University of Western Ontario, Fanshawe College and the London Coordinating Committee to End Women Abuse. CREVAWC was established in response to a federal study on violence against women that was initiated during the aftermath of the December 6, 1989 mass femicide at École Polytechnique in Montreal.
The CREVAWC programs and courses are exceptional and free.
Encourage all the men in your life – especially young men – to take the White Ribbon Pledge of non-violence.
The White Ribbon Campaign is also rooted in the 14 femicides that took place at École Polytechnique in Montreal, Quebec on December 6, 1989.
A group of feminist men including Jack Layton, Ron Sluser and Michael Kaufman, met in London, ON in November 1991 with the goal of creating a campaign to raise awareness around gendered violence. The white ribbon symbolizes men giving up their arms.
The campaign expanded its international reach and now has groups in over 60 countries promoting healthy relationships, gender equity and a more empathic and compassionate vision of masculinity.
The Canadian Government also has resources that include 16 steps for 16 days of activism. Find those resources here.
The 16 Days of Activism concludes on December 10th, the UN Human Rights Day. The theme for the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is Freedom, Equality and Justice for All.
Take a stand for the right of women and children to live free from violence – whether it’s psychical, psychological, financial, in-person or virtually.
That could look like demanding various levels government collaborate on implementing a robust guaranteed standard of living — aka a livable basic income; create safe, accessible, geared to income housing; ensure culturally appropriate food at prices that have not been inflated to ensure generous corporate bottom lines; as well as advocating for gender equity and self-determination.
Because as it stands, the basic human rights of women and children across Ontario, Canada and the globe are under attack and that’s leading to mass casualties.