16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence
A number of groups across campus are working together to highlight the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, an annual international campaign. The 16 Days begins on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and concludes on December 10, Human Rights Day.
ANOVA and Changing Ways, two community partners working in the area of gender-based sexual violence, will be on site to provide information and to dialogue with students about the issues of GBSV. As well, as part of London’s Shine a Light on Woman Abuse campaign, King’s will be hosting a talk by Dr. Jennifer Kagan, a campaign honouree.
Schedule of Events:
Changing Ways
Changing Ways provides alternatives for those wishing to end and take responsibility for their abusive behaviour. They help men and women who are emotionally, psychologically, verbally, sexually and/or physically abusive towards their partners. There will be an information table in the King Student Life Centre on December 5 from 1 - 3 p.m.
Sign Making Session with SJPS
Dr. Kimberly Baltzer-Jaray will be creating signs with SJPS students and the SJP Club on December 5 from 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. in the King Student Life Centre.
Public Display
On December 6, a public display outside the Student Life Center will commemorate the deaths of the 14 women killed, and the 10 women and 4 men injured at Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal on this day in 1989. These female students were singled out and killed by a gunman who claimed he was “fighting feminism”. This event was the deadliest mass shooting in Canada until 2020.
Memorial Events at Western
Brescia will be partnering with Women in Engineering on December 6 at 10 a.m. in the Amit Chakma building to host an event in honour of the massacre that took place at Ecole Polytechnique. Event will feature remarks from Brescia’s President, Dr. Lauretta Frederking; the Dean of Engineering, Ken Coley; and Barb MacQuarrie, Community Director at Centre for Research & Education on Violence against Women & Children.
ANOVA
Anova works in the London community to create change to eliminate patriarchal patterns that result in gender-based sexual violence and inequality. There will be an information table in the King Student Life Centre on December 6 from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
King’s activities will include social media campaigns from Residence and Campus Life, the SJP Club, KUCSC, and members of various SJPS classes. The campaign will address a range of gender-based issues and populations including girls and women (cisgender), 2SLBGTQIA, the homeless, sex workers, migrants and refugees, indigenous, disabilities, health care, and intersectionalities.
All members of the King’s community are invited to contribute art and writing to a zine being developed and distributed at the end of the campaign. Contributions can be sent to ZineGBV@gmail.com. The zine will be available online and in printed form across campus.
We recognize that gender-based violence remains an issue on our campus, on all campuses, and in our communities. This campaign seeks to bring attention to these issues and encourage all members of the King’s community to actively work towards the eradication of gender-based violence.