Taking Action to Prevent Violence Against Women

In 1999 the United Nations General Assembly declared November 25th the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and invited governments, international organizations and non-governmental organizations to raise public awareness of the problem. In Canada, December 6th is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. This day marks the anniversary of what came to be known as the Montreal Massacre. Events are held throughout the country to remember the 14 women who were killed at l'École Polytechnique on December 6, 1989.

Violence is a major factor in women’s health and well-being. In 1995, the measurable health-related costs of violence against women in Canada were estimated to exceed $1.5 billion a year.¹ These costs include short-term medical and dental treatment for injuries, long-term physical and psychological care, lost time at work and use of transition homes and crisis centres.

A substantial proportion of the costs of violence result from its impact on victims’ health and the burden it places on health institutions. This gives the health sector both a special interest in prevention and a key role to play. The public health approach to violence starts with the conviction - based on evidence - that violent behaviour and its consequences can be prevented. It complements the criminal justice and human rights responses to violence and provides additional tools and sources of collaboration.²

The Public Health Agency of Canada leads the federal Family Violence Initiative and manages the National Clearinghouse on Family Violence (NCFV). We invite you to join us in remembering all of the women and girls who live daily with the threat of violence or who have died as a result of deliberate acts of gender-based violence, and to support the development and promotion of concrete actions to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls.

For additional information on what the Public Health Agency of Canada is doing to address violence against women, including access to free publications about violence against women and family violence, please visit the NCFV website at: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ncfv-cnivf/familyviolence/femabus_e.html.

For information on the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, please visit our partner department, Status of Women Canada,
at: http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/dates/dec6/index_e.html.

For information on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, which kicks off an international campaign called The 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence, please visit UNIFEM at: http://www.unifem.org/campaigns/november25

The Bureau of Women’s Health and Gender Analysis, Health Canada, also joins the NCFV in commemorating this important day:
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/branch-dirgen/hpb-dgps/pppd-dppp/bwhga-bsfacs/index_e.html

1  Day, T. (1995) The Health-Related Costs of Violence Against Women in Canada: The Tip of the Iceberg, Centre for Research on Violence against Women and Children.

2  World Health Organization (2002), World Report on Violence and Health.