Letter: Be part of #GirlsToo with 16 Days of Activism in opposition to Gender-Primarily based Violence
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Women Inc. of Northern Alberta is dedicated to stopping gender-based violence and advocating for gender equality as a result of we all know that each one ladies can expertise violence and inequality.
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As a voice for the 16 Days of Activism in opposition to Gender-Primarily based Violence from November 25 to December 10, 2021, I’m writing to assist urge the group to be taught and act on stopping and addressing gender-based violence – individually and collectively, thereby in search of illustration of #GirlsToo.
The 16 Days of Activism in opposition to Gender-Primarily based Violence is an annual world name to motion to finish gender-based violence – any type of hurt in opposition to individuals based mostly on their gender id, how they categorical themselves or current stereotypes.
Whereas gender-based violence impacts anybody, some expertise it extra steadily and in additional distinct methods than others – notably ladies and gender-diverse youth. Notably, the magnitude of their expertise varies relying on how intricately gender id, gender expression or perceived gender overlap and intertwine with various factors contributing to the sense of security.
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These embody however are usually not restricted to race, ethnicity, sexuality, age, residing circumstances, well being, mobility, accessibilities, exceptionalities, faith, citizenship, historical past and extra.
Women Inc. of Northern Alberta is aware of that there are distinctive layers of current and newly rising gendered limitations, challenges, and vulnerabilities that ladies notably undergo.
We additionally know that every lady experiences these limitations in a different way relying on how and the place you might be located in numerous areas – house, college, group, domestic-international, media, on-line and so forth.
And these have been exacerbated via violence and inequality heightened by the COVID19 induced changes, flooding, and financial downturn over the previous two years.
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Our #GirlsToo program tackles this advanced concern head-on. Constructing on #MeToo, #GirlsToo is a motion in and of itself. It calls out that #MeToo isn’t just an 18+ motion. Respect begins younger. Actions begin younger. Modifications begin younger.
This program presents age-appropriate schooling by way of in-school programming and after-school workshops to equip individuals with abilities and information to acknowledge, stop and tackle gender-based violence of varied types and ranges.
Members will be taught consent, wholesome relationships, gendered challenges, and what to do when/in the event that they face gender-based violence. They may learn to be a part of an answer. It additional facilitates alternatives for individuals to be taught self-defense methods whereas serving to to construct their self-confidence.
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By means of arts-based advocacy and sincere dialogue in a secure house, they may learn to advocate for a cultural shift in the direction of therapeutic, empowerment, supporting survivors, breaking the silence, and finally, ending gender-based violence – individually and collectively.
For this yr’s 16 Days of Activism in opposition to Gender Primarily based Violence marketing campaign, Women Inc. of Northern Alberta is partaking youth, native eating places, and social media to amplify the #GirlsToo motion.
- With youth, there shall be a sequence of 4 workshops for ladies ages 10+ on 1) ladies’ and ladies’s rights in Canada via the Conference on the Elimination of all Types of Discrimination Towards Girls, 2) the position of media in gender-based violence, 3) what an ally appears like by unpacking Islamophobia and racism, and 4) how you can break the cycle of gender-based violence whereas supporting survivors.
- With native eating places, #GirlsToo themed napkins and postcards shall be distributed in order that the group can begin paying extra consideration to what 16 Days of Activism in opposition to Gender-Primarily based Violence is all about and the way one could possibly be an advocate for #GirlsToo motion. Greatest thank-you to the collaborating eating places for partnering with us: Avenue Espresso, Boston Pizza (Downtown and Timberlea), Mr. Mikes, Stacs, Surekha’s on the Snye and 57 North Kitchen and Brewery.
- On social media, we’re calling for nominations for somebody taking actions to create a cultural shift in the direction of supporting survivors and breaking the silence. Prizes to be received.
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As talked about earlier, gender-based violence impacts anybody. Feeling like you might be caught, feeling like you might be silenced, feeling like you might be conditioned to fulfill sure self- and societal-expectations… these emotions could also be skilled equally. It’s the magnitude or the method these emotions skilled that will differ relying on the place and the way one is situated at given intersections.
It’s our hope that #GirlsToo requires actions from everybody to create modifications by studying how inequality and violence are at work in our group and the world, how every particular person experiences intersecting limitations and violence of varied types in a different way and the way we as human beings can strengthen resiliency to gender-based violence.
Mirror. Act. Help those that come ahead and share their struggles with you. Take heed to completely different voices. Begin questioning what ‘being secure’ and ‘peace’ may appear like. Do what you possibly can. Take optimistic dangers. Name out while you encounter gender-based violence of any type. And most significantly, voice to interrupt the silence collectively. Be part of the #GirlsToo dialogue at present.
How will you act for the 16 Days of Activism in opposition to Gender-Primarily based Violence this yr?
Nanase Tonda, government director of Women Inc. of Northern Alberta
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