Commentary, Opinion

Monthly Message: My Sister’s Place raises awareness around Gender Based Violence

November 27, 2025   ·   0 Comments

In Canada, November is recognized as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Women Abuse Prevention Month. This month is dedicated to raising awareness, supporting survivors, and advocating for change. It serves as a time to educate the public, reflect, and stand together in solidarity to show support to those affected by gender-based violence.

During the month, we ask the community to show their support for those women experiencing violence and abuse and for those who have had the courage to leave by wearing purple.  We will be featuring community members wearing purple on our social media platforms throughout the month and in our e-newsletter. If you, your organization, or staff would like to participate in the Wear Purple Challenge, you can email your pictures to fundraiser@mysistersplace.ca.

On Nov. 25, we recognize the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, which was designated in 1999 by the United Nations General Assembly. The date was chosen to commemorate the lives of the Mirabal sisters, who were violently assassinated in 1960. The day pays tribute to them and urges global recognition of gender-based violence.

What is Gender Based Violence?

Everyone has the right to live free from violence. However, many people in Canada continue to face violence every day because of their gender, gender expression, gender identity, or perceived gender. This is referred to as gender-based violence (GBV), and it is a violation of human rights. 

GBV is not limited to physical violence. It can include any word, action, or attempt to degrade, control, humiliate, intimidate, coerce, deprive, threaten, or harm another person. Neglect, discrimination, and harassment can also be forms of GBV. 

GBV takes place in public spaces, workplaces, at home, and online. GBV can have long-lasting and negative health, social, and economic effects that span generations, which can lead to cycles of violence and abuse within families. While violence affects all people, it disproportionately affects women and girls.

For more information on GBV, visit canada.ca/en/women-gender-equality/gender-based-violence/about-gender-based-violence.html

The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is also the start date of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence, which goes until Dec. 10, Human Rights Day. 

This campaign started in 1991 to call out and speak up on gender-based violence, and to renew our commitment to ending violence against women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ individuals.

This year’s theme for the 16 Days of Activism is “UNiTE to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls.”

The 2025 campaign focuses on one of the fastest-growing forms of abuse: digital violence.

What is digital abuse?

• Digital tools are increasingly being used to stalk, harass, and abuse women and girls. This includes:
• Image-based abuse/ non-consensual sharing of intimate images.
• Cyberbullying, trolling, and online threats.
• Online harassment and sexual harassment.
• AI-generated deepfakes such as sexually explicit images, deepfake pornography, and digitally manipulated images, videos or audio.
• Hate speech and disinformation on social media platforms.
• Doxxing – publishing private information.
• Online stalking or surveillance/tracking to monitor someone’s activities.
• Online grooming and sexual exploitation.
• Catfishing and impersonation.
• Misogynistic networks – e.g. manosphere, incel forums.

These acts don’t just happen online. They often lead to offline violence, such as coercion, physical abuse, and even femicide.

On Dec. 5, we will be holding a gathering to commemorate the National Day of Remembrance & Action on Violence Against Women at the corner of Victoria Street and Church Street in Alliston from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 

On Dec. 6, 1989, 14 women were murdered at the École Polytechnique de Montréal in Montreal, an anti-women mass shooting also known as the Montreal Massacre. This is still Canada’s most deadly school shooting.  Please wear purple and join us.

Human Rights Day is observed every year on Dec. 10 to commemorate the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. The day highlights the importance of protecting and promoting human rights for all individuals, regardless of race, religion, gender, or nationality. It serves as a global reminder that equality, dignity, and freedom are the foundation of peace and justice in every society.

At My Sister’s Place, we work hard to raise community awareness; we attend festivals and vendor markets in our communities; and we speak at third-party events and at community group and organization meetings. In schools, we talk about safe relationships. We also provide educational tools for women in crisis, family and friends of women in crisis, and for the public to try to identify, prevent, or avoid an abusive relationship. 

Unfortunately, gender based violence and abuse do happen in our communities, and creating public awareness about violence against women is an ongoing effort for us.  We try to engage with the community to provide information, support, and most of all, dispel the myths around violence and abuse.

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