The National Council of Women of Canada (NCWC) stands in solemn solidarity with advocates worldwide during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, an annual international campaign running from November 25—the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women—to December 10, Human Rights Day. This campaign aims to raise awareness, prevent, and end violence against women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ communities, in families and online spaces alike.
This period also includes Canada’s National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women on December 6, as we remember the 14 victims of the 1989 Polytechnique Montréal tragedy and calls for Canadians to unite in efforts to eradicate gender-based violence.
A critical issue NCWC highlights is femicide. According to the Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability (CFOJA), over 1,181 women and girls have been victims since the organization’s inception. In 2024 alone, 187 were violently killed, with 93% of known cases involving male perpetrators. On average, one woman or girl is killed every two days in Canada, with about one woman killed weekly by her male partner. Indigenous, racialized, and marginalized women face heightened risks due to intersecting oppressions like poverty and housing insecurity.
Femicide is a widespread, persistent violation of human rights globally. These deaths will continue until systemic social factors that sustain violence—including harmful stereotypes, inequalities, and discriminatory attitudes about gender—are addressed by governments worldwide. Urgent action is needed: enhanced data collection, victim support, broad public education to dismantle harmful gender norms and legal reforms as per our POLICY the recognition of femicide as a distinct criminal offense.
Other relevant NCWC policies addressing violence against women are available at WWW.NCWC.CA.
Ending femicide demands relentless advocacy, confronting societal attitudes, and investing in the safety and empowerment of all women and girls across Canada. The NCWC urges all Canadians to listen, believe survivors, educate, speak out, and act. Only through collective responsibility and transformative change can Canada build a future free from gender-based violence and honour the human rights and dignity of all.
National Council of Women of Canada