December 2 2025
Content Warning: This article includes themes of gender-based violence, femicide, murder, and harassment. The Canadian Labour Congress has compiled a list of resources for those who may need support: https://canadianlabour.ca/uncategorized/sources-support-and-information/.
From November 25 to December 10, organizations around the world recognize the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence. November 25 marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, to raise awareness and campaign against gender-based violence. December 10 marks Human Rights Day, celebrating the United Nations adoption and proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.
In Canada, we also recognize December 6, National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. This day honours the lives of 14 women who were murdered in an anti-feminist massacre at Polytechnique Montréal in 1989. Their names are:
Geneviève Bergeron
Hélène Colgan
Nathalie Croteau
Barbara Daigneault
Anne-Marie Edward
Maud Haviernick
Maryse Laganière
Maryse Leclair
Anne-Marie Lemay
Sonia Pelletier
Michèle Richard
Annie St-Arneault
Annie Turcotte
Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz
Today NUPGE joins the country in mourning the loss of these women, and all women, girls, and gender-diverse people to gender-based violence. Every 48 hours in Canada, a woman or girl is murdered. Often times, the perpetrator is someone they know. Almost always, it is at the hands of a man. For women, girls, and gender-diverse people, simply existing in their school, in their home, at their work, or in a public space can be fatal.
Abolishing violence cannot happen with only 16 days of action once a year. We must dedicate sustained time and resources to addressing this all-too-common issue. The Canadian Labour Congress (of which NUPGE is a member) has done significant research on violence and harassment prevention in the workplace. With input from workers across the country, they have also developed several tools to address intimate partner violence (IPV) and domestic violence (DV) in the workplace. Both the United Nations and the Government of Canada have also developed a list of ways to take action during these 16 Days of Activism.
NUPGE joins the CLC and other unions across the country to demand the federal government coordinate a national strategy to implement ILO C-190 and conducts a national public awareness campaign as part of Canada’s National Action Plan on Gender-Based Violence.