National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women
Encyclopedia
The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women is a day commemorated in Canada
each December 6, the anniversary of the 1989 École Polytechnique Massacre
, in which 14 women were singled out for their gender and murdered. It is often marked by vigils, discussions and other reflections on violence against women.
Canadian flags on all federal buildings, including the Peace Tower
on Parliament Hill
, are flown at half-mast
on December 6. In addition, Canadians are encouraged to observe a minute of silence on December 6 and to wear a white ribbon
(or a purple ribbon
) as a commitment to end violence against women.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
each December 6, the anniversary of the 1989 École Polytechnique Massacre
École Polytechnique massacre
The École Polytechnique Massacre, also known as the Montreal Massacre, was a hate crime perpetrated on December 6, 1989 at the École Polytechnique in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Twenty-five-year-old Gamil Rodrigue Liass Gharbi, who had changed his name to Marc Lépine, armed with a legally obtained...
, in which 14 women were singled out for their gender and murdered. It is often marked by vigils, discussions and other reflections on violence against women.
Canadian flags on all federal buildings, including the Peace Tower
Peace Tower
The Peace Tower is a focal bell and clock tower, sitting on the central axis of the Centre Block of the Canadian parliament buildings in Ottawa, Ontario. The present incarnation replaced the Victoria Tower after the latter burned down in 1916, along with most of the Centre Block...
on Parliament Hill
Parliament Hill
Parliament Hill , colloquially known as The Hill, is an area of Crown land on the southern banks of the Ottawa River in downtown Ottawa, Ontario. Its Gothic revival suite of buildingsthe parliament buildings serves as the home of the Parliament of Canada and contains a number of architectural...
, are flown at half-mast
Half-staff
Half-staff is the American term for to describe a flag flying a flag below the summit of the flagpole . The rest of the English-speaking world uses the term half-mast. Technically the flag should be flown one breadth lower to allow for the invisible flag of death...
on December 6. In addition, Canadians are encouraged to observe a minute of silence on December 6 and to wear a white ribbon
White ribbon
The white ribbon, a white-colored ribbon or representation of a white-colored ribbon, has several different meanings depending on the context. As with other color ribbons, is sometimes used by political movements to signify or spread their beliefs...
(or a purple ribbon
Purple ribbon
A purple ribbon is worn to raise awareness for various causes, including:* Child Abuse* Anti-Gay Bullying*Pulmonary hypertension*Domestic violence*Pancreatic cancer*Animal abuse*Proportional representation voting system for UK elections...
) as a commitment to end violence against women.
See also
- International Day for the Elimination of Violence against WomenInternational Day for the Elimination of Violence against WomenWomen's activists have marked November 25 as a day to fight violence against women since 1981. On December 17, 1999, the United Nations General Assembly designated 25 November as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women...
on November 25 - Stop Violence Against WomenStop Violence Against WomenStop Violence Against Women is a worldwide campaign of Amnesty International to counter violence against women.It was started on 5 March 2004, in preparation before International Women's Day. It is one of Amnesty's key campaigns. Amnesty considers that domestic and sexual violence are serious...
, a campaign of Amnesty InternationalAmnesty InternationalAmnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's... - White Ribbon Campaign