During 16 Days of Activism, Every Woman Treaty was honored to be part of an extraordinary event honoring the 14 Canadian women who were killed on December 6 at Polytechnique Montréal in 1989. In a horrific act of misogyny, Mark Lepine entered an engineering classroom, separated students by gender, and opened fire on the women, who he blamed for his failure to be accepted into the engineering program. He then turned the gun on himself. Fourteen women were killed and 10 were injured.
We joined activists from across the world and Canadian government officials, including multiple members of parliament and the Ambassador to the United Nations, New York, to honor the lives of these women and push for change.
The online event, hosted by the National Council of Women of Canada, opened with NCWC President Marianne Wilkinson reading a statement from Canada’s General Governor, H.E. the Honorable Mary Simon, who called for an “end to the brutality that too many women endure for no other reason than that they are women.”
H.E. Ambassador Bob Rae, Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations in New York said that violence against women and girls is one of the great challenges we face around the world.
Special guest Marie Potvin, a survivor of the Montreal Polytechnique Massacre, drove home the point of the challenge ahead of addressing misogyny in Canada and around the world. In 1989, “femicide” was a controversial term, and while it’s recognized today, there is much that needs to be done for women to feel safe in our society today.
Every Woman Treaty Chief of Diplomatic Campaign Patricia Elias underscored how a new Optional Protocol to CEDAW on ending violence against women and girls can work in tandem with CEDAW to break down the inequality that fuels femicide and violence against women and girls.
She emphasized Canada’s leadership and the crucial role of activists. “Canada can leverage its existing influence and resources to address one of the most pervasive barriers to gender equality, ensuring that its feminist principles translate into action towards the protection and freedom for women and girls from violence worldwide,” she said.
Women’s rights activists are why we have CEDAW, the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women. When a new Optional Protocol to CEDAW to end violence against women and girls is drafted and ratified, it will be because women’s rights activists in Canada and across the globe came together to make it happen.
Every Woman Treaty is deeply grateful to the National Council of Women of Canada for hosting this event, to H.E. Governor General Mary Simon for her statement, to H.E. Ambassador Bob Rae for his presence, and to the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls for sending a statement despite travel and technical issues. Thanks as always to The Carter Center for its partnership and ongoing work addressing women’s rights, and to Marie Potvin, for her voice.
Every Woman Treaty Chief of Diplomatic Campaign Patricia Elias on why a new OP-CEDAW dedicated to eradicating violence against women and girls is essential and the process to achieving this goal:
Watch the full event:
