Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women
December 6 is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women. On this day we remember and mourn the loss of 14 women, murdered at Montréal's École Polytechnique, murdered because they were women.
Read a message from COPE 378's Women's Committee here
We remember the 14 lives lost. And there are other numbers to remember:
- Every minute of every day, a woman or child is being sexually assaulted in Canada
- Homicide is the Number 1 killer of women in the workplace
- Homicide of women by firearm has shrunk since gun control - from 144 in 1989 to 33 in 2006
- 582 missing and murdered Aboriginal women (and counting)
- Women with disabilities are 1.5 to 10 times as likely to be abused as non-disabled women, depending on whether they live in the community or in institutions.
- Each week, 1 to 2 women are murdered by a current or former partner
- Up to 360,000 children in Canada are exposed to domestic violence every year
- Physical and sexual abuse costs Canada over $4 billion each year
It is easy to feel hopeless in the face of such stark statistics. However, even the smallest actions by an individual in his or her workplace can make a difference. December 6 is the day when we make the lives of these women – of all women and children touched by violence - count.
We make a difference when we speak out against bullying, harassment and discrimination of any kind.
We make a difference when unions raise the issue of violence at the bargaining table, or advocate for effective workplace violence legislation.
We make a difference when we raise strong, compassionate children.
We make a difference when we fight for women's equality and economic security.
This year, the Canadian Labour Congress challenges workers to Make Women's Lives Count by taking action in memory of the 14 women murdered on December 6.
