16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence: November 25 to December 10.
16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence is an international effort to highlight the need to create a world that is free from gender-based violence. The 16 days run from November 25 to December 10. November 25 is the anniversary of the deaths of the Mirabal sisters, three political activists from the Dominican Republic who were brutally murdered in 1960 by order of the country's ruler and December 10 is International Human Rights Day. In Canada, we also observe the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women during the 16 Days to remember the women who were murdered during the tragic mass shooting at Polytechnique Montréal on December 6, 1989.
The Sexual Harassment Office at Memorial is participating in the 16 days of Activism with a number of activities and encourages you to take some time to educate yourself and advocate for change. Everyone needs to be part of making the world a safer place for women, girls and gender diverse individuals.
You can make a difference, here are some things you can do!
Remember @ Memorial
The Sexual Harassment Office will host Silent Vigils from December 4 to December 8 to remember the women who were killed on December 6, 1989. Each event will run from 11am to 2pm.
- Monday, December 4 – Engineering Building
- Tuesday, December 5 – Engineering Building
- Wednesday, December 6 – Engineering Building
- Thursday, December 7 – University Centre, beside RBC
- Friday, December 8 – Engineering Building
Educate yourself
Learn the Basics here - https://women-gender-equality.canada.ca/en/gender-based-violence/about-gender-based-violence.html
Attend a Webinar - The Peter Jaffe Lectures on Ending Domestic Violence
https://www.learningtoendabuse.ca/resources-events/jaffe-lectures.html
Take the E-Course at empoweringthem.ca
Produced by the St. John’s Women’s Centre and hosted by well-known comedian Mike Lynch, “Empowering Them” is free to everyone, completely virtual, interactive and self-paced. This hour and a half E-Course teaches us to think differently about myths and stereotypes, see differently by recognizing the signs of GVB and act differently though the simple act of a #CheckIn.
Who is this for?
Teens, adults, parents, siblings, friends, workers, partners… we want everyone over the age of 14 to take up the cause and change the way GBV impacts all of us. You might be experiencing abuse; it might be that you are causing it; it might be happening to someone you know. Whatever the case, this course will give you the confidence to ask and act accordingly.
Register for SVM 0204
Students at Memorial can register for SVM 0204 Sexual violence awareness and prevention, a required educational module for all new students and open to registration by any student. SVM 0204 is a self paced module in Brightspace which takes from 1 to 2 hours to complete, depending on your current level of knowledge. The intent of the module is to ensure that all students at Memorial can:
- recognize sexual violence
- prevent sexual violence
- intervene in a helpful way
- know about the supports available at Memorial
- develop a strong understanding of the complexities of sexual consent.
Similar content is available to staff and faculty in the Workplace Violence Prevention modules which are required for all new employees. You can review this content in Brightspace at any time and the Sexual Violence module is updated regularly.
Learn about the Signal for Help from the Canadian Women’s Foundation
Learn about “bodyright”, https://www.unfpa.org/bodyright A campaign against digital violence.
Donate money or time!
Many organizations serving those who are impacted by gender-based violence accept donations. Share your time or your money to support the cause.
Kirby House https://iriskirbyhouse.ca/index.php/support-us/
St. John’s Women’s Centre https://sjwomenscentre.ca/donate-and-volunteer/
Violence Prevention Avalon East https://violencepreventionae.ca/
End Sexual Violence NL https://endsexualviolence.com/