16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence

When technology is used to facilitate gender-based violence, the online and offline safety of women and girls is compromised. The unacceptable rise in tech-facilitated GBV signals that gender equality is under threat, both in Canada and around the world.

To do:

• Listen to this podcast episode to learn about technology-facilitated gender-based violence in Canada with Rhiannon Wong (external link) . This episode covers what tech-facilitated GBV is, its impacts and pervasiveness, and actionable steps for the public to end this violence.
• Listen to the "Alright Now What?" podcast (Canadian Women's Foundation) Episode on “De-Platforming Misogyny”: How to Address Online Hate? - Episode 4 (external link) 

Reflection questions:

1. How can you recognize when a digital interaction is crossing a boundary? What steps can you take to address it safely?
2. What does asking for consent look like in digital contexts? (ie. sharing photos, screenshots, tagging, location sharing, etc)
3. What can be done to collectively campaign for regulations and better oversight of digital platforms that facilitate or profit from technology-facilitated gender-based violence?

Additional resources:

1. Consent Comes First: Practicing Digital Consent & Online Safety Document (external link) 
2. Digitally Informed Youth: Resources (external link) 
3. Tech Safety Canada: Technology Safety and Privacy Toolkit (external link) 
4. Hu, R., et al., 2023:  (PDF file) Digital Technology’s Complex Role in Facilitating and Responding to Gender-Based Violence among (Im) migrants: A Scoping Review

To do:

Listen to this podcast episode and learn from Dr. Sarah Hunt about resurgent cultures of consent, decolonizing rape culture, bodily sovereignty, and community organizing (external link) .

Read this backgrounder from the GBV Learning Network about  (PDF file) GBV Against Two Spirit Indigenous Peoples

Reflection questions:

1. How can you expand your practice of consent in all areas of your life? (This could be internally, interpersonally, politically, ecologically, etc.)
2. In reflecting on how gender-based violence is rooted in colonialism, are there Eurocentric beliefs or standards that come to mind that perpetuate rape culture?
3. How can you include and center two spirit stories in your efforts to address gender-based violence?

Additional resources:

1.  (PDF file) Violence on the Land, Violence on our Bodies: Building an Indigenous Response to Environmental Violence Report & Toolkit (external link) 
2. It Starts with Us (external link) 

To do:

• Watch this Wisdom2Action video (external link)  made by 2SLBGTQIA youth, discussing gender-based violence from their perspectives.
• Read this two part blog post about intimate partner violence (IPV) within the 2SLBGTQIA community.
  • Part one of the Wisdom2Action video (external link)  discusses the prevalence and unique experiences of intimate partner violence within the 2SLBGTQIA community.
  • Part two of the Wisdom2Action video (external link)  discusses the history of systemic violence towards the 2SLBGTQIA community in Canada, and how that history contextualizes current violence and barriers for 2SLBGTQIA survivors attempting to access justice and healing.

Reflection questions:

1. How do you think homophobia and transphobia intersect with gender-based violence?
2. What assumptions do you have about who perpetrates and who is affected by gender-based violence? How might these assumptions impact our ability to support all survivors?
3. How do you cultivate safety within 2SLGBTQIA spaces and beyond?

Additional resources:

1. Canadian Women’s Foundation:  (PDF file) Queering Gender-Based Violence Prevention & Response in Canada (external link) 
2. Wisdom2Action Report:  (PDF file) LGBTQ+ Youth Priorities for Addressing Gender-Based Violence (external link) 

To do:

• Read this document from the GBV Learning Network: Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault (external link)  that outlines information about DFSA
• Read this article from Battered Women’s Support Services: Debunking the Myth: Alcohol-Facilitated Rape is Not ‘Drunken Sex’ (external link)  that discusses some common myths about alcohol-facilitated sexual assault

Reflection questions:

1. How might societal beliefs about substances and sexual behaviour impact the way survivors of DFSA are treated?
2. How can you help to combat common myths around drug facilitated sexual assault?
3. How do we give and receive informed, engaged consent in a situation where alcohol or other drugs are involved?

Additional resources:

1. In this info sheet, the University of Alberta Sexual Assault Centre debunks common myths about DFSA:  (PDF file) Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault (external link) 
2. This article from CBC discusses about how alcohol impacts consent in the Canadian legal system (external link) 

To do:

• Listen to this podcast episode: Debriefing the Hockey Canada Verdict (external link) , where Jennifer Dunn (London Abused Women's Centre⁠), discusses the Hockey Canada sexual assault case, misogyny, the challenges faced by GBV victims in the legal system and the need for systemic change in the hockey world.
• Read this guide from Egale about “Transvestigation” – the informal discriminatory investigation into whether a person is secretly transgender, and how it feeds misogyny in sports.  (PDF file) “Transvestigating” In Sport And How It Feeds Misogyny (external link) 

Reflection questions:

1. How does misogyny show up in sports culture? How do you think misogyny contribute to rape culture in sports?
2. How can debates around “fairness,” bodies, or hormone levels mask transphobia and transmisogyny?
3. What does a consent-centered, critical feminist sports culture look like to you?

Additional resources:

1. Podcast: The Problem That Hockey Won’t Name (external link) 
2. Watch: Trans Athletes Confront Assumptions About Gender Identity In Athletics (external link) 

To do:

1. Listen to Coining “Misogynoir” (external link)  where Moya Bailey discusses how and why she conceived of the word "misogynoir": the unique form of anti-Black sexism faced by Black women.
2. Read this infographic by the TMU BIPOC Students Collective & The TMU Centre For Women & Trans People (external link)  about the intersections of racism and sexism, and its impact on the lives of black women.

Reflection questions:

1. As a black survivor, what changes would you need to see to feel that your well-being is a priority? (in your friend group, in your community, in your neighbourhood, in your school, in society, in this world)
2. As an ally to Black survivors, can you identify some implicit biases to unlearn? What are some ways you can show up as an advocate for Black survivors?

Additional resources:

1. IWPR - Violence Against Black Women – Many Types, Far-reaching Effects (external link) 
2. M4BL - End The War On Black Women (external link)  | Black, Trans, Queer, Gender Non-Conforming & Intersex People (external link) 

December 1 is World Aids Day and marks the beginning of Indigenous AIDS Awareness Day/Week in Canada from December 1 to December 7. Indigenous AIDS Awareness Week is an opportunity to increase awareness and knowledge about HIV/AIDS within Indigenous communities, combat stigma and discrimination, and support those affected by the virus.

To do:

1. Read this guide created by Communities, Alliances & Networks, Voices of the Peoples: Indigenous AIDS Awareness Day/Week 2025 (external link) , to learn about Indigenous AIDS Awareness week and actions you can take
2. Browse this report,  (PDF file) Indigenous Women, HIV, and Gender-Based Violence (external link)  by the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network and explore their resources to deepen your understanding of how HIV & GBV are interconnected and impact indigenous communities

Reflection questions:

1. Why is Indigenous AIDS Awareness Day/Week important to your community and how is it interconnected with promoting gender justice?
2. How can HIV be a cause and consequence of violence?
3. How can you and your community help to destigmatize HIV and advocate for accessible and inclusive HIV prevention and care?

Additional resources:

1. CATIE: World AIDS Day 2025 (external link) 
2. Women & HIV/AIDS Initiative: Women & HIV in Ontario (external link) 

To do:

• Listen to a podcast episode from DAWN (DisAbled Women’s Network of Canada, Reimagining Disabled Futures (external link) , to explore how gender, disability, and economic inequality intersect to shape the lived experiences of women, girls, and gender-diverse people with disabilities
• Read this CBC Interview with Disability advocate Vicky Levack: More women with disabilities unhoused due to abuse, violence, data shows (external link) 

Reflection questions:

1. How can disability intersect with someone’s risk of gender-based violence?
2. How might stereotypes or misconceptions about disability influence how survivors are treated?
3. How can we practice informed, freely given, and enthusiastic consent in ways that honour diverse ways of communicating and processing information?

Additional resources:

1. DAWN: Centering Disabled Women and Gender-Diverse People in the Fight Against GBV (external link) 
2. GBV Learning Network:  (PDF file) Violence Against Women With Disabilities & Deaf Women (external link) 
3. TMU: Transnational Policy Responses: Gender-Based Violence and Women and Girls with Disabilities
4. TMU: Canadian Women and Gender-Diverse People with Disabilities’ Experiences in Accessing Primary Care: A National Survey

To do:

• Watch this webinar, Nowhere To Go: Gender Based Violence & Housing Insecurity in Ontario (external link) , to explore the structural roots of Canada’s housing crisis and examine who is most impacted, with a particular focus on survivors of gender-based violence.
• Read this article from Fred Victor, Women’s Homelessness in Canada: Causes, Challenges, and Solutions (external link) , to learn about women’s homelessness in Canada

Reflection questions:

1. How are housing insecurity and gender-based violence interconnected? How can we build coordinated, intersectoral solutions to address housing insecurity and violence?
2. In what ways is housing insecurity in Toronto a public issue that naturally intersects with universities, rather than something “outside” the campus environment?
3. How can you challenge your assumptions about homelessness, including student homelessness, and advocate for gender and housing justice?

Additional resources:

1. Full report from Housing Rights Canada:  (PDF file) Nowhere To Go: Gender Based Violence & Housing Insecurity in Ontario (external link) 
2. The National Rights For Housing Network: Voices for Housing Justice - Centering Women, Gender-Diverse, and Two-Spirit People in the Fight for Safe, Adequate, and Affordable Housing (external link) 
3. Homeless Hub: Preventing Homelessness Among Post Secondary Students (external link) 

To do:

• Read this article from the Canadian Women’s Foundation, Reproductive Coercion: What it is, and How to Stop it (external link) , to learn about how reproductive coercion is a form of gender-based violence
• Listen to the Canadian Association of Midwives podcast episode, Ending Forced Sterilization: A Path to Justice (external link) , to hear Senator Yvonne Boyer and Métis midwife, Nathalie Pambrun, discuss the coerced and forced sterilization of Indigenous women in Canada.

Reflection questions:

1. What are some examples of reproductive coercion in intimate and family relationships?
2. How has the Canadian state historically controlled or interfered with the reproductive autonomy of certain communities?
3. How does access to birth control and abortion services vary across Canada? How does inequitable access impact reproductive autonomy?

Additional resources:

1. GBV Learning Network: Reproductive Coercion Against Intimate Partners (external link) 
2. Planned Parenthood Ottawa’s webpage: Reproductive Coercion (external link) 

To do:

• Read this info guide from The Centre For Innovation In Campus Mental Health: What Is Intimate Partner Violence? (external link) 

Reflection questions:

1. How would you define intimate partner violence (IPV) in your own words?
2. How can you identify that a relationship is abusive? Why might IPV be difficult to recognize, even for the person experiencing it?
3. What barriers might someone face when trying to name or seek help for IPV? How can those barriers be compounded by factors like race, gender, or institutional systems?

Additional resources:

1. There’s a Way Out (external link) : GBV Learning Network resource that amplifies the voices of survivors of Intimate Partner Violence by sharing their advice to those who are currently experiencing IPV.
2. Femaide (external link)  - Ressources en Français (chat, téléphone, SMS).
3. GBV Learning Network: Infographics Directory (external link) 

Today, we honour the memory of the 14 young women who lost their lives in the 1989 École Polytechnique Massacre, a horrific act of violent misogyny.

Gender-based violence (external link) , both then and now, is rooted in systemic oppression upheld by patriarchy. This day serves as a reminder of the urgent need to confront and dismantle patriarchal violence (external link) , including gender-based violence.

As we reflect on this day, we not only remember the women from the Montreal Massacre but also acknowledge the acts of violence against women, trans people, and children across Canada and around the world over the past year.

The Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children (CREVAWC) was founded in 1992 in response to a national study addressing violence against women, following the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre that claimed the lives of 14 women. CREVAWC's mission remains active today, as they respond to societal and judicial challenges that engage us in local, national, and global efforts to break the cycles of gender-based violence—in our homes, workplaces, and communities.

• There are lots of opportunities to participate (external link)  in learning on their website.

Self-care is an essential part of healing and resilience. It allows us to tend to our emotional and physical needs, creating a space where we can process pain and regain strength at our own pace. Self-care isn’t selfish—it’s a necessary act of compassion toward ourselves, helping us reconnect with our inner resources and cultivate the balance needed to move forward.

To do:

• Listen to the Healing Comes in Waves Podcast Episode: Trusting Yourself After Trauma (external link) 
• Listen to the Healing Comes in Waves Podcast Episode: Cultivating Pleasure (external link) 

Reflection questions:

1. What self-soothing strategies could you add to your daily routine to care for your emotional well-being?
2. How would you offer kindness and understanding to a friend in distress? In what ways can you offer yourself the same compassion?
3. How can you invite the concept of play back into your life as an adult? (Hint: try making a list of things you used to do or have always wanted to try)

Additional resources:

1. adrienne maree brown: “I Want You, But I’m Triggered” (external link)  (From Pleasure Activism, 2019).
2. Blue Knot Foundation. Ways to ground yourself when your stress response is activated (external link) .
3. Me too, Survivor Healing series: Voice, Choice and Boundaries (external link) 

To do:

• Listen to Healing Comes in Waves Podcast’s Navigating the Legal System Episode (external link)  and Restorative Justice Episode (external link)  to explore different ways to seek justice

Reflection questions:

1. What does justice look like for you? (reporting, disclosing to family, restorative justice, punishment)
2. What is the connection between justice and healing for you?

Additional resources:

1. Archway Society.  (PDF file) Surviving Sexual Assault-your options, your choice (external link) .
2. A podcast to explore the limitations of the justice system. Surviving Justice Podcast (external link) .
3. Website: Walking you through the lawsuit process if you decide to sue (external link) .
4. What is Transformative Justice? (external link) 
5. Courage To Act: Towards a Justice that Heals (external link) .

International students at Canadian post-secondary institutions also face disproportional levels of gender-based violence. Many of these students face unique challenges, such as cultural isolation, limited awareness of available support resources and campus systems. Research indicates that these factors contribute to an increased risk of gender-based violence among this population (Satyen et al., 2020; Beine & Noël, 2018).

International students may encounter language barriers and cultural differences, alongside an unfamiliar legal environment. This underscores the importance of creating a supportive and educational atmosphere. Alarmingly, studies reveal that nearly 1 in 5 international students report experiencing some form of gender-based violence during their time in Canada (Chen et al., 2021), and it is crucial to recognize that many cases go unreported.

To do:

• Read this Evidence Brief created by the Canadian Government:  (PDF file) International students’ experiences of gender-based violence in Canada (external link) 

Reflection questions:

1. How might unequal access to information, healthcare, legal support, and culturally relevant services shape international students’ ability to seek safety or disclose harm?
2. What factors put international students and other immigrants at higher risk for gender-based violence? How can we advocate for federal, provincial, and university policies that support immigrant survivors and prevent violence?

Additional resources:

1. Possibility Seeds’ Report: Supporting International Students Affected by GBV (external link) 
2. GBV Learning Network: Policies to Support Migrant Women Experiencing Gender-based Violence: Gaps and Opportunities

16 Days Of Activism culminates with Human Rights Day; a day dedicated to commemorating the historic 1948 proclamation of the  (PDF file) Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) (external link) .

In 2025, we also mark the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (external link) . a historically significant, forward-thinking international agreement on women’s rights.

To do:

• Read about Human Rights Day and choose at least one way to take part in it: Human Rights Day (external link) 
  
• Read “The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action at 30, and why that matters for gender equality (external link) ” to learn about what progress has been made and what challenges still remain to achieve gender equality

Reflection questions:

1. Whose rights are most protected in Canada? Whose rights are most often ignored or undermined?
2. What role should universities play in advancing human rights and gender equality? What role can you play?

Additional resources:

1. Read the  (PDF file) Universal Declaration of Human Rights (external link) 
2. Video: Ontario’s Human Rights System, Explained (external link)