{"id":8114,"date":"2018-12-13T10:17:13","date_gmt":"2018-12-13T15:17:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/communityfirst\/?p=8114"},"modified":"2018-12-13T10:20:35","modified_gmt":"2018-12-13T15:20:35","slug":"in-case-you-missed-it-december-1st-march-to-end-violence-against-women","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/communityfirst\/2018\/in-case-you-missed-it-december-1st-march-to-end-violence-against-women\/","title":{"rendered":"In Case You Missed It: December 1st March to End Violence Against Women"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Kate Higginson, CFICE Communications Research Assistant<\/em><\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>Although the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence may have come to a close, the fight against gender-based violence must continue year-round.<\/p>\n

A key first step that each and every one of us can take is to listen. Listen to the 1 in 3 women affected by gender-based violence. Listen to the marginalized women who are at a much greater risk of being targeted. Listen to those who are taking action against gender-based violence and ask how you can support.<\/p>\n

Listening is precisely what we did at the recent December 1st march to\u00a0End Gender-Based Violence hosted by the Grandmothers Advocacy Network (G<\/a>RAN<\/a><\/u>), the Ottawa Coalition to end Violence Against Women (OCTEVAW<\/a><\/u>), and Women In International Security Canada (WIIS<\/a><\/u>).<\/p>\n

The march began at the Canadian Tribute to Human Rights monument at Minto Park. While participants mingled, GRAN handed out homemade signs and flameless candles for participants to carry on the march to City Hall. At City Hall, participants were welcomed to sit and listen to the evening\u2019s presenters.<\/p>\n

The theme of this year\u2019s event was End Violence Against Women in the World of Work.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a><\/p>\n

Opening the evening\u2019s remarks was Algonquin elder Annie Smith St. Georges. She spoke of the ten years she spent on Parliament Hill making inquiries for missing and murdered indigenous women. Although an official inquiry<\/a> was finally opened in 2016, Annie commented that many cases still go unchecked every year. Annie also touched on her work with\u00a0victims of residential schools.\u00a0She concluded her speech by reminding the audience that: \u201cwe are all the caregivers of human kind\u201d and we must look out for each other. She also noted that Mother Earth is suffering because we have failed to love, care for, and respect her. She likened the world’s treatment of Mother Earth to the treatment of women in society and stated definitively that we must say \u201cno\u201d, \u201cnon\u201d, or \u201cka\u201d to ongoing violence and injustice against women and Mother Earth.<\/p>\n

Roua Aljied joined the event in the form of a prerecorded video. The Ottawa spoken word poet was unable to make the event in person, but sent a video of her original slam poem, \u201cPrimary Colours\u201d, which narrated the story of a young artist who would paint everything, including herself, and who would later become painted in bruises by the man she loved. The video ended with a powerful message to support the UN policy to end domestic violence.<\/p>\n