December 6 – We Remember: National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

It was almost 23 years ago when 14 young women were murdered at l’École Polytechnique de Montréal. They were killed simply because they were women.

On December 6th of every year, which now marks the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, we commemorate the lives of these women and reflect on the acts of violence against women that still occur in our society today.

According to the Canadian Women’s Foundation, half of all women in Canada have experienced at least one incident of physical or sexual violence since reaching the age of 16. Nationally, on average, every six days a women is killed by her partner (in 2009, 67 women were murdered by a current or former spouse or boyfriend). This is simply unacceptable.

The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women is an opportunity for us to think about women and girls who confront violence every day, to remember those who have died as a result of gender-based acts of violence, and to build our collective resolve to eradicate violence against women.

A ceremony will be held today, Thursday, December 6, at 11 a.m. at Province House in downtown Halifax to recognize the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. Please come out and show your support for this very worthy cause.