Violence against women must stop
Today, the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence will begin. This is an international campaign that takes place each year and runs from Nov. 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to Dec. 10, International Human Rights Day.
Each year, the United Nations secretary-general’s UNiTE to End Violence Against Women calls for global action to increase worldwide awareness and create opportunities for discussion about challenges and solutions.
The campaign advocates for inclusive programs and policies that address the barriers faced by the most underserved and disadvantaged groups of women and girls, and include, them in planning, policy formulations, decision-making, implementation and outcomes.
It also calls for sustainable and robust financing for efforts to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls at all levels.
This year the UNiTE campaign’s theme is Leave No One Behind — End Violence against Women. The Campaign utilizes the colour orange as a unifying theme running through its global activities.
Orange is a symbol of a brighter future, free from violence against women and girls.
In Canada, this campaign is promoted by the Grandmothers’ Advocacy Network, volunteers who advocate at all levels to engage Canadian and international support for policies and programs that will address the needs of African grandmothers as they strive to sustain their families and communities in the wake of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
In Calgary, our local group, called Advograms, is supporting this campaign and is pleased that the Calgary Tower will be lit in orange on Nov. 25 and Dec. 10. We are also encouraged that the legislature in Edmonton will be lit in orange during the campaign.
Gender-based violence is receiving a great deal of attention and we hope that this increased awareness leads to concrete actions to eliminate violence against women and girls. To that end, we encourage you to raise this issue within your networks as we strive to achieve an end to this serious violation of human rights.
Yvonne Schmitz, Advograms, Calgary