Canadian Muslim Organizations Participate in the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence (November 25 to December 10)

16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is a worldwide campaign that brings together people from all over the world to speak up, start conversations and renew their dedication to eradicate gender-based violence.

These 16 days start on November 25th (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) and end on December 10th (International Human Rights Day).

In Canada, we also commemorate the École Polytechnique massacre on December 6th as the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. 14 young women were targeted by a mass shooter at École Polytechnique in Montreal, Quebec, an action he justified in the name of "fighting feminism".

Canadian Muslim organizations across Canada are marking the 16 Days by sharing resources on social media.

Muslim Link has chosen to highlight some Canadian Muslim organizations whose frontline work and research aims to address issues of violence against women and girls in Canada.

Nisa Foundation

• Runs a helpline with support available in English, Arabic, Urdu, and Somali
• Runs shelters for women and children in cities across Canada: Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Windsor, Hamilton, Toronto, Mississauga, Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver
• Offers public education on addressing gender based violence for Muslim organizations, and non-Muslim organizations working with Muslim clients

Visit Nisa Foundation's page dedicated to 16 Days where they offer a downloadable Safety Plan Checklist and Domestic Violence 101 Toolkit

Sakeenah Canada

• Runs shelters for women and children in cities across Canada
• Developing foster care services for Muslim children in Canada: St. Johns, Montreal, Ottawa, Brampton, Toronto, London, Windsor, Winnipeg, Regina
• Offers public education on addressing gender based violence

Sakeenah Canada is currently focusing on raising awareness about human trafficking, a form of gender-based violence, in Canada. Register for their upcoming online workshop on Forced Marriage as a Form of Human Trafficking on December 3

Muslim Resource Centre for Social Support and Integration (MRCSSI)

Follow MRCSSI's Public Education Social Media Page on Instagram for education posts on gender based violence. Register for an upcoming online workshop MRCSSI staff about working with newcomer Arabic speaking clients experience abuse on December 12

Coalition of Muslim Women of Kitchener Waterloo

The Coalition has created a website called Towards Violence Free Homes which offers resources in English, Arabic, Farsi, Urdu, and Turkish for people needing help to address violence in their homes.

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