2023-03 VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN – ABUSE & HARASSMENT OF WOMEN IN PUBLIC LIFE
Whereas #1 NCWC policy 22.10 and 22.15 speak to violence against women and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) but neglect to follow through on a broader interpretation of this issue; and
Whereas #2 violence against women in public life, according to UN Women, has reached serious proportions as 82% of women in 5 regions reported experiencing some form of psychological violence while serving their terms, including death threats, rape, assault and abduction against them and their families; and
Whereas #3 in Canada, in recent months, the Governor General and the Deputy Prime Minister, both women, have experienced abuse aimed at silencing them and damaging their credibility using racist, misogynistic and abusive language; and
Whereas #4 online abuse is a manifestation of violence similar to off-line violence and women should not be expected to pay this price just to participate, as visibility makes them targets for violence and abuse; and
Whereas #5 when we fail women public figures, we fail whole generations of young women where abuse serves as a deterrent to women’s leadership and active participation and an intentional effort to keep women out of decision-making processes; therefore be it
Resolved #1 that the National Council of Women of Canada adopt as policy zero tolerance for any kind of abuse, harassment, and violence against women in public life; and be it further
Resolved # 2 that National Council of Women of Canada urge the Government of Canada to develop, implement and fund an action plan to end violence against women in public life including but not limited to:
a) policy and a broad regulatory framework to ensure easy access to reporting tools,
b) clarity in definitions and follow-up procedures, and
c) provide researchers with transparency and disaggregated data both nationally and
internationally; and be it further
Resolved # 3 that the National Council of Women of Canada urge the Provincial and Local Councils of Women to work with their respective levels of government to speak against violence against women in public life, and when called on, develop and implement policy and programs to end these acts; and be it further
Resolved # 4 that the National Council of Women of Canada urge the Provincial and Local Councils of Women to collaborate with others, to support women in public life, and to advocate for related policies and action strategies to prevent these acts of gender-based violence.