Abid Jan

December 6, is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women – still one of the most important days of commemoration on our calendar. It marks the sombre anniversary of the day in 1989 when a disturbed young man used a rifle to murder 14 women at a Montreal engineering school – singling them out simply for being women.

Addressing violence against women involves a multi-pronged approach that includes prevention, intervention, and support for survivors.

Prevention efforts can include educating people about healthy relationships, consent, and gender-based violence. This can be done through school-based programs, community workshops, and public awareness campaigns.

Interventions can include providing support services for survivors of violence, such as counselling, legal aid, and emergency housing. These services should be culturally sensitive and accessible to all women, regardless of their background or immigration status.

The criminal justice system can also play a role in addressing violence against women by holding perpetrators accountable for their actions and providing a sense of justice for survivors. This can include implementing laws and policies that protect women from violence, such as domestic violence laws and sexual assault laws, and providing training for law enforcement and the court system on how to handle these cases.

Additionally, working with men and boys to change harmful societal norms and attitudes towards women is also important in addressing violence against women.

Overall, a comprehensive approach that involves collaboration between different sectors such as government, law enforcement, non-profit organisations and community groups is essential to effectively addressing violence against women.

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