November 25 marks International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. This day reminds us we need to examine the ongoing issue of violence against women, a problem which many think affects only women and girls. Violence against women also hurts families and communities. Issues affecting women are human rights issues and the problem of violence toward women is a symptom of deeply-rooted and systemic discrimination.
Women have the right to live free from all types of discrimination. They have a right to live free from physical, mental, and sexual violence. Sexism, misogyny, homophobia, and transphobia perpetuate a culture where violence is normalized and tolerated. These harmful attitudes and practices affect all genders, but women continue to experience the most harm. The widespread nature of gender-based violence affects people based on their sex. But discrimination and violence also occur based on a person’s gender identity, gender expression, sex, or sexual orientation. Women are sometimes discriminated against because they are pregnant or have children. The Northwest Territories Human Rights Act protects individuals from discrimination based on these grounds. Employers, service providers, and landlords have a responsibility to protect all people from discrimination regardless of their sex, or gender identity.
Violence against women is an issue that requires a shift toward understanding and addressing the systems and structures that allow violence to continue. Violence is connected to harmful beliefs about women. Harmful behaviours and speech contribute to making violence normal. Men are the overwhelming majority of people who behave in ways that exclude, discriminate, or perpetrate violence against women. Organizations, communities, and institutions run and overseen by men often have biased policies and processes that favour men over women.
Men must play the critical role of changing their attitudes and behaviours that permit, sexism and misogyny to continue unchecked. Men must challenge each other to be respectful, expect equality, and make non-violence the norm. Men must create the foundation for lasting change by addressing inequalities in their spaces and cultures as well as in the justice system. It is time to hold our cultural and economic systems accountable for failing to protect women and girls from violence.
On this International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, we urge every person, our communities, and institutions to shift the conversation from victimization to accountability. This means calling out sexism, misogyny, homophobia and transphobia in all spaces. It means taking responsibility for the culture we create through our words, actions, and systems. Everyone can help create a world free from violence, where all people, regardless of sex, gender, identity, or sexual orientation are safe, respected, and valued.
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