Activists push to end violence against women

Truthout, Liza Jansen

December 4, 2009

The Dec. 6 anniversary of the Montreal Massacre falls within an annual two-week campaign to combat violence against women. The international 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence was started in 1991 by the Center for Women's Global Leadership, two years after the shocking events at Montreal's Ecole Polytechnique. Each year the 16-day period begins on Nov. 25, the International Day Against Violence Against Women, and ends on Dec. 10, which is International Human Rights Day. The 16 Days Campaign focuses on raising awareness and encouraging action from individuals and world leaders to end all forms of violence against women. Events are being hosted by various organizations around the world, including Amnesty International, CAFOD, Peace X Peace and the United Nations.