In December 1999, the United Nations proclaimed November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. For over 20 years now, people have been coming together every year to talk about this problem that is still far too present today.

According to figures collected by Statistics Canada, there was a 60% increase in the number of calls from victims of domestic violence during the pandemic in the period from March to September 2020.

60% is huge! That's over 50,000 calls!

Because violence is everyone's business, we must talk about it, name it, denounce it and not hesitate to ask for help. This is why, as part of the 12 days of action against violence against women, which will take place from November 25 to December 6, the campaign is called: #DeconfiningFeministConversation. All these stories that are hard to hear or say out loud have the power to transform society. To end violence, we need to talk about it, and that's what the campaign wants to put forward.

It is also important to note that women, whether they are aboriginal, health care workers, racialized, immigrant, LGBTQ+, disabled, confined, incarcerated, non-status, sex workers, or homeless, do not have to experience violence because of their gender.

During this event, the 12 Days of Activism committee wanted to highlight the invisibilization and normalization of violence experienced by women that has existed for too long.

To participate in the 12 days of action, we decided to write 3 short stories. Stories where violence has intruded into relationships that started out normal, but ended up a nightmare.

You will learn about types of abuse such as social abuse, verbal abuse and emotional abuse that should not be overlooked. Remember that even if the injuries are not physical, they can hurt just as much or even more.

Read Story 1: Girls' Dinner

Read Story 2: Opposites attract

Read Story 3: Female Love