Dec. 6 - Remembrance and action on violence against women

Women continue to be the target of violence in their homes, workplaces and education facilities.' - Marie Bean

Ottawa (4 Dec. 2006) – On December 6, 1989, a deranged gunman spent 45 minutes roaming the corridors of L’Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal. After separating the women from the men, he opened fire on the female engineering students as he screamed: “I hate feminists”.

Fourteen young women lost their lives that day. The event became known as the Montreal Massacre and has become symbolic in the fight to end violence against women. In 1991, Canada’s Parliament declared December 6th a National Day of Mourning and the National Day to End Violence Against Women.

Continued commitment

At a National Union Conference held October 1-3, 2006 entitled “Building International Sisterhood”, delegates renewed their commitment to work to end violence against women.

Conference Chair Marie Bean called attention to three recent violent events. “Just in the past few weeks alone, three violent incidents have occurred, two of which targeted women specifically.

“On September 13, 2006 a gunman opened fire on students at Dawson College in Montreal. When his rampage ended one young woman was dead. On September 27 a gunman took six female students hostage at a high school in Colorado. He used them as human shields, and then sexually assaulted all of them before he killed one student.

“And on October 2 a gunman entered an Amish school in Pennsylvania and shot 11 young girls, killing three of them. None of the girls were over the age of 13. The gunman was carrying out a grudge against women that dated back to his childhood.

“This violence against women must end. Seventeen years after the Montreal tragedy women continue to be the target of violence in their homes, workplaces and education facilities. We must renew our commitment to stopping violence against women in all of its forms,” stated Bean.

Not the time to cut funding for women's equality

At a time when Canadians pause to remember daughters, mothers, sisters and friends lost to acts of violence, the Conservative government of Stephen Harper has systematically slashed funding for those who advocate on behalf of victims of violence.

In the past few weeks, the words ‘women’s equality’ have been removed from the mandate of Status of Women Canada, the agency’s budget has been reduced by 38.5% and changes to the mandate and funding rules prohibit women’s organizations from engaging in advocacy or lobbying activities. And on November 30 the government announced it will close 12 of the agency’s 16 offices by April 1.

James Clancy, National President of the National Union of Public and General Employees, stated, “As we pause to remember women lost to us because of violence, we must recommit to sending a clear message to Stephen Harper and Minister Bev Oda (Status of Women) that we have not obtained freedom from violence for Canadian women.

“Clearly this government should be increasing rather than decreasing funding to women’s groups that advocate for equality and freedom from violence for women. Young women under the age of 25 and Aboriginal women continue to be the most vulnerable to violence. Until women live free of the threat of violence there can be no justification for funding cuts to their strongest voice – women’s advocacy groups.

The National Union urges its members and all Canadians across the country to pause and reflect on December 6th and pledge to continue working to support survivors of acts of violence and to continue lobbying the federal government to increase funding to women’s groups.”

Not too much to ask

The National Union is participating in the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) postcard campaign to commemorate December 6th. The emphasis of the postcards is to tie December 6th to the need for ongoing and increased support by the federal government to women’s organizations who fight for equality and against violence.

The cards state:

“Violence against women remains a reality in our world. Federal funding for equality-seeking women’s groups is inadequate and threatened. Two dollars for every woman and girl in our society should be allocated for women’s equality. It is not too much to ask.”

The cards are to be mailed to individual MPs at the House of Commons.

The postcards ask MPs to mark December 6th by declaring their support for increased core funding for women’s groups across the country which advocate for equality and to end violence against women. NUPGE