Official launch of the "12 days of Action Against Gendered Violence" campaign
MONTRÉAL, Nov. 25, 2022 /CNW Telbec/ - Today November 25th marks the official launch of the "12 Days of Action Against Gendered Violence" national campaign organized by the Fédération des femmes du Québec (FFQ) and the 12 Days Committee which will be taking place at the WIP art gallery located at 3487 Saint-Laurent Boulevard in Montréal. The event promises to be a mixture of artistic, poetic, and musical performances set around the theme: "Transforming to Heal, Healing to Transform: Let's Uproot Violence."
With this year's theme, the 12 Days Committee wishes to send a clear message: beyond the mere recognition of gendered and systemic violence, it is necessary to begin a healing process not only individually, but collectively.
"Healing does not mean putting the mental burden on victims. It is about transforming mindsets and habits at their root to heal society as a whole. We want actions that empower victims. We want to break down institutional barriers that prevent healing and we want to hold the State, and society accountable. Transformation and healing are everyone's business," explains Taïna Mueth, spokesperson, and coordinator of the 2022 campaign.
This year's campaign takes place in a context of dramatic rise in terms of violence against women. While the number of femicides has increased by 77% between 2019 and 2020, 2021 is by far the deadliest year recorded in Quebec since 2008. These numbers would be even higher if they included murdered and missing Aboriginal women.
The 12 Days Committee also supports the importance of bringing about transformation and healing within organizations themselves.
"NPOs and feminist organizations must question the way they do things to meet the needs of the most marginalized women in society. Questioning ourselves is vital if we want to undertake a much-needed collective healing process and transform our organizations for the better," adds Ms. Mueth.
The launch marks the beginning of 12 days of action and awareness activities throughout Quebec, culminating in the commemoration of the Polytechnique massacre on December 6.
The 12 Days Committee is grateful to the organizations that helped shape its 2022 campaign : the Simone de Beauvoir Institute, Concertation-Femme, the Centre de solidarité lesbienne, Stella, PiamP, Hoodstock, Service d'Entraide Passerelle, CSQ, the Table des groupes de femmes de Montréal, FTQ, the Centre de documentation sur l'éducation des adultes et la condition féminine, Girls Action Foundation, the Regroupement Naissance-Renaissance, Solidarité sans frontières and the Centre des femmes de Rivière-des-Prairies. We are also grateful to the Secrétariat à la condition féminine for its financial support.
Coordinated by the Fédération des femmes du Québec (FFQ), the 12 Days Committee is an innovative self-managed coalition in Quebec that brings together nearly 20 feminist organizations. For the past 11 years, the 12 Days Committee has organized its annual campaign from November 25th to December 6 with the purpose of eliminating systemic and institutional violence against women. For more information, visit www.12joursdaction.com
SOURCE Fédération des femmes du Québec
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