BY: Rida Shah
The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is observed from November 25th to December 10th by governments, international organizations, and individuals to raise awareness of violence against women. Working to understand the fight against violence against women empowers women and their children while educating society about daily injustices. Observing this day can raise awareness by giving back to their local community's women's centres, donating, and becoming more cognisant of the lived experiences that women face.
The United Nations states that violence against women has risen due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing humanitarian crises in our world. Their UN Women further indicates that 2 in 3 women reported that they or a woman they knew experienced violence. Only 1 in 10 women would seek help from the local authorities. These statistics illustrate how bringing awareness to gender-based violence is becoming even more crucial. It is necessary to evaluate the root causes and transform these social norms to empower women and girls. In Toronto and the Downsview Community, many survivors-centred services and women's centres support women facing violence.
The Working Women Community Centre at Jane & Finch is a women-focused settlement agency that has supported and empowered immigrant women and their families for over four decades. Providing programs and services that focus on economic development, settlement counselling, and educational support changes the lives of thousands of immigrant women. The endless opportunities and pathways at the Working Women Community Centre allow women to realize their potential and become better informed within society. Like this centre, the Elspeth Heyworth Centre for Women also expands this reach by helping vulnerable women struggling with COVID-19, financial issues, and no employment. Their foundation aims at helping the most marginalized women by providing legal support. This unique approach allows for collaboration with lawyers where women facing violence can seek legal support at Elspeth Heyworth Centre for Women.
The centres not only represent ways to empower women but also offer educational methods to raise awareness of gender-based violence and ways to prevent it. The fight against gender-based violence, specifically against women, must be highlighted daily. Empowering women in the community need to be strengthened as we are the future of our communities and must uphold this promise.