Surrey Schools recognizes 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence

November 25, 2024

Surrey Schools is joining organizations and school districts across the country in participating in 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, a global campaign calling for an end to violence on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation.

Each year, the campaign begins with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on Nov. 25 and concludes with Human Rights Day on Dec. 10.

For 2024, the Government of Canada’s theme is Come Together, Act Now, emphasizing the importance of everyone in Canada – particularly men and boys – in “changing social norms, attitudes and behaviours that contribute to gender-based violence.” It also serves as a call to recognize the signs of gender-based violence and reach out for support, for ourselves or loved ones.

In Canada, 44 per cent of women reported experiencing some form of intimate partner violence in their lifetime, with one-third of women aged 15-24 reporting experiencing it in the 12 months prior to a 2018 federal survey.

There are a number of ways to acknowledge and learn about gender-based violence, including:

reading the 16 ways you can help end gender-based violence;
familiarizing yourself with stats, demographics and types of violence through the It’s Not Just campaign; and
watching a film, video or documentary on gender-based violence from the National Film Board.

Also recognized during the 16 Days of Activism, the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women falls on Dec. 6, in remembrance of the 14 young women murdered at Polytechnique Montréal in 1989.

To raise awareness of these important dates, the public is encouraged to wear purple on Nov. 25 for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and to wear a white ribbon on Dec. 6 for the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

With the 16 Days of Activism coming to a close with Human Rights Day, it is also an opportunity for communities to learn about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on Dec. 10, 1948, the declaration defines fundamental human rights that are to be universally protected, such as a right to life, the freedom of movement and the freedom of speech, among others.

The Ministry of Education and Child Care has provided a number of resources to help educators build a culture of consent in their classrooms and schools:

The B.C. government’s Supporting Student Health guides (Elementary and Secondary) have been significantly expanded to include more content related to consent and gender-based violence. These guides provide background information and teaching suggestions to help teachers feel more confident and comfortable addressing these situations with their students.
Further enhancements have been made to the physical and health education curriculum to provide teachers with additional guidance on how to integrate these topics into their classrooms.
The erase website has expanded to include dedicated resources on consent and gender-based violence to prevent and respond to different forms of gender-based abuse.

Surrey Schools is committed to its ongoing efforts to increase awareness and education to prevent incidents of gender-based violence.

For more information on 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, click here.