16 Days of Activism – a Campaign Against Gender-Based Violence
Content warning: may be triggering for those who have experienced or know someone who has experienced intimate partner violence, sexual violence or gender-based violence. If you are experiencing abuse, contact VictimLink at 1-800-563-0808.
November 25th is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, designated by the United Nations. Between this date and World Human Rights Day on December 10 are the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, an annual initiative committed to ending violence against women worldwide. This date also kicks off the yearly Domestic Violence Awareness campaign in Canada. It is an opportunity and invitation to come together, raise awareness, connect people with resources, reduce the stigma for survivors and commit to ending gender-based violence.
The theme for 2022 is ‘’It’s Not Just‘’. It highlights how GBV is unfair and unlawful, but also shows how it is dismissed as “just” domestic violence. – UN Women, 16 Days Campaign 2022
From “Broken” an art installation in Germany by Dennis Josef Meseg calling attention to GBV. Photo by Mika Baumeister on Unsplash
Awareness: What is Abuse?
The government of Canada describes gender-based violence as, “any word, action, or attempt to degrade, control, humiliate, intimidate, coerce, deprive, threaten, or harm another person.” . This includes what has been called intimate partner violence (battery, marital rape, psychological abuse, forced isolation, financial control, forbidding access to birth control, gaslighting and manipulation, degradation, etc.) between individuals who are known to each other, but also rape (sexual assault), sexual abuse, human trafficking, forced marriage, lack of investigation into missing and murdered indigenous women, stalking, dowry-killings, female genital mutilation, child marriage, and legislating policies that prevent access to care.
“Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is one of the most widespread, persistent and devastating human rights violations in our world today remains largely unreported due to the impunity, silence, stigma and shame surrounding it.”
More information on types of violence against women from the UN, and more information about intimate partner violence from the Battered Women’s Support Services in Vancouver.
From “Broken” an art installation in Germany by Dennis Josef Meseg calling attention to GBV. Photo by Mika Baumeister on Unsplash
Because of the power differential inherent in patriarchal systems, it is rooted in the systemic oppression of women. Of this population, other forms of oppression (racism, colonialism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia and ableism) increase the risk of violence, targeting especially; women, young women & girls, indigenous women, LGBTQIA, transgender people, women in rural communities, women with disabilities, black women, and newcomer women to Canada.
“Already heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic, its prevalence is now being further increased by the intersecting crises of climate change, global conflict and economic instability.”
– UN Women
For me, a tomboy who was not allowed to participate in many activities deemed as “too masculine”, gender equality has always been a no-brainer, but I became passionate about violence against women during a Body Shop campaign where I think I was given a free purple t-shirt. That became the basis of looking into the issues and learning facts like these below, that I still find hard to believe, in spite of years of volunteering in women’s organizations, shelters and centres, working as a trauma counsellor for survivors of domestic abuse, and my own lived experience.
From “Broken” an art installation in Germany by Dennis Josef Meseg calling attention to GBV. Photo by Mika Baumeister on Unsplash
Awareness: Red Flags
Intimate partner abuse is not always physical and it’s not always obvious. Here are some warning signs of a potentially dangerous relationship:
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- Denying / restricting outings without partner
- Monitoring of cell phone and email
- Belittling and insulting commentary
- Threats of harm to partner, people or animals they care about
- Isolating from family and community
- Controlling access to shared finances
- Humiliation
- Gaslighting and manipulation
- Obligations to engage in sex
- Denying access to necessities like food, medicine, etc.
- Stalking
- Controlling the way partner dresses and acts
- Blaming everything on partner
- Explosive or uncontrolled anger
- Threats to commit suicide or call authorities
- more here
Some other cues that might indicate an abusive relationship include:
• You feel afraid to break up with them.
• You feel tied down, feel like you have to check-in.
• You feel afraid to make decisions or bring up certain subjects so that the other person won’t get mad.
• You get angry often towards your partner.
• You find yourself not trusting your thoughts, ideas, instincts.
• You find yourself doing things that don’t feel right for you.
• You find yourself often defending your partner to your best friends and family.
• You tell yourself that if you just try harder and love your partner enough that everything will be just fine.
• You find yourself crying a lot, being depressed or unhappy.
• You find yourself worrying and obsessing about how to please your partner and keep them happy.
• You find the physical or emotional abuse getting worse over time.
– The Red Flag Campaign
Does this feel familiar? Check out the resources below for help with an abusive situation, or to get answers to questions.
From “Broken” an art installation in Germany by Dennis Josef Meseg calling attention to GBV. Photo by Mika Baumeister on Unsplash
Action: What to do if you or someone you know needs help
- Seek safety. Don’t linger in a dangerous situation if you are able to leave safely. If you’re not able to remove yourself, do whatever you can to keep yourself safe. Reach out to a friend, doctor or counsellor for support.
- Call a helpline for support with developing a plan or getting more information to protect yourself:
- Battered Women’s Support Services (BWSS) crisis line: 604-652-1867 / Toll free at 1-855-687-1868 plus many resources at https://www.bwss.org/
- VictimLink BC: 1-800-563-0808 / TTY 604-875-0885 | Text: 1-800-563-0808
- Learn the “Signal for Help” – developed during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a one-handed sign someone can use on a video or around their abuser to let others know that they may be unsafe.
- Stay connected with people who can help and continue to be alert for opportunities to increase safety – i.e.: have an escape plan, keep your phone charged at all times, keep important documents and items easily accessible.
Even if you are a survivor of past abuse, the trauma of experiencing gender-based violence is something that can stay with you for a long time afterwards and affect you in many ways. If you feel that you need to process the aftermath of abuse, seek out a trauma-informed counsellor who can help.
#PushForward: Act to End Violence against Women and Girls #16Day
