November 25 is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. It marks the start of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence campaign that runs from November 25 to December 10 and calls attention to the need for action to put an end to gender-based violence against women and girls.
Gender-based violence and toxicity can find their way at home or in the workplace. Within the Canada Border Services Agency, recent discussions at parliamentary committees have brought to the forefront the very real issue of toxic culture aimed at women. The recent CBC article on the murder of Patricia Foreman in 2022 also serves as a stark reminder of the presence of gender-based violence in our communities.
The Customs and Immigration Union recognizes the need for more to be done to build psychologically and physically safer workplaces, which is why we have been advocating for CBSA to put in place a stronger standalone Intimate Partner Violence Policy to:
- Provide improved processes in response to cases of intimate violence
- Educate CBSA personnel on the signs and symptoms of intimate partner violence
- Ensure that people facing violence have access to the resources they need
What Canadian unions are doing
From the Canadian Labour Congress:
From November 25 to December 10, Canada’s unions are taking part in the global call to end gender-based violence. Every worker deserves safety, dignity, and respect on the job:
- Safer workplaces through the full implementation of ILO C-190, including protections against third-party violence.
- Stable funding, decent work, and real support for the frontline workers helping to end GBV every day.
16 Days of Activism in Canada
We invite all our members to take a look at the federal government’s page on the 16 Days of Activism campaign for ways to get involved and to take action.
Some stats (from Women and Gender Equality Canada):
- Between 2018 and 2024, police-reported intimate partner violence (IPV) increased by 14%. In 2024, women and girls accounted for 78% of all IPV victims.
- That same year, 42% of women who were killed died at the hands of a spouse or intimate partner, up from 32% in 2023.
- Indigenous women and girls continue to face disproportionate harm: 61% have experienced IPV in their lifetime, compared with 44% of non-Indigenous women.
Internationally
Be sure to also check out the related United Nations campaign UNiTE. Led by UN Women, this initiative “was created to support the civil society led 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence campaign around the world.”
The 2025 UNiTE theme is No Excuse for Online Abuse: “What can start small, on screens – a message, a comment, or a post – can quickly spiral into a torrent of threats and violence in real life. Private photos are stolen without consent. Lies spread in a matter of seconds. Locations are tracked. AI is weaponized to create deepfakes designed to shame and silence women.”
