Marking the start of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence
By Anna Marie Parayno, Project Developer & Women’s Support Worker
As part of our outreach for the Stopping the Violence Counselling and Multicultural Victim Services Program, we’d like to bring attention to the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on Nov 25th.
Nov 25th also marks the start of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, which ends on Dec 10th, Human Rights Day, in recognition that gender-based violence is a human rights violation. This day commemorates the assassinations of the Mirabal sisters in 1960. They were activists in the Dominican Republic who called themselves “Las Mariposas” (the butterflies) and were killed for openly protesting the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo.
Violence still exists today. It ranges on a spectrum, from subtle to more extreme forms of violence, where women can be, and have been killed. MOSAIC encourages everyone to raise awareness and take a stand against all forms of violence. We must believe and stand with victims and survivors.
If you are working with someone who is impacted by gender-based violence or trauma, support is available at MOSAIC. The Stopping the Violence Counselling program offers free, confidential counselling support and outreach services for all self-identifying women who have experienced, or are at risk of, abuse, threats, or violence in intimate relationships, sexual assault or childhood abuse. The Multicultural Victim Services Program offers free, confidential emotional support and practical assistance in dealing with the criminal justice system for multicultural victims of all types of crimes.
MOSAIC also offers the I Belong Program which specifically caters to LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer/Questioning) newcomers. Services are provided to transwomen and queer women from around the world who have gone through trauma, discrimination and violence in their home countries or in Canada. I Belong offers free and confidential peer support group and group counselling sessions once a month. For further information contact Masashi (ext 1024).
For more information and support, feel free to call us at 604-254-9626.
