International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

At its meeting of November 20, 2024, Council of the Corporation of the Township of Essa passed the following: 

WHEREAS November is Woman Abuse Prevention Month and November 25th is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women; and

WHEREAS violence is the greatest gender inequality rights issue for women, girls and gender-diverse individuals, and our community is committed to ending femicide and all forms of gender-based violence; and

WHEREAS Femicide rates are on the rise in Ontario with over 52 femicides in Ontario since November 26th, 2023; and

WHEREAS on average every 6 days a woman or child lost their life due to men’s violence last year in Ontario; and

WHEREAS Indigenous, Black, South Asian and South East Asian women and girls continue to experience high rates of violence, including femicide, on the 2022-2023 Ontario Femicide List; and

WHEREAS this month and throughout the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, we acknowledge our community’s support of the “Wrapped in Courage” campaign and commitment to ending gender-based violence; and

WHEREAS there is an urgent need for greater investment and action to end gender-based violence in our community and throughout Ontario by all three levels of Government; and

WHEREAS a “Wrapped in Courage” campaign flag will be raised in November during Woman Abuse Prevention Month to recognize that the courage of a woman alone is not enough and that it takes an entire community to end gender-based violence;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council of the Township of Essa hereby proclaims and declares that November 25th, 2024 shall be known as “The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women” and urge all citizens to recognize this day by taking action to support survivors and become part of Ontario-wide efforts to end gender-based violence.

---Carried----