Mr. Speaker, the 16 days of activism to end violence against women begin today, with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and ends on December 10, Human Rights Day.
December 6 is Canada's National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of 14 young women who were murdered at École Polytechnique in Montreal.
Ending violence against women is the responsibility of all levels of government, including the police, the justice system, civil society and other stakeholders.
Our government has been working diligently to end violence against women at home and abroad. Canada has signed onto the UNIFEM campaign, “Say NO” to violence against women, and our government has introduced a number of justice reforms to protect our most vulnerable.
As we pause to commemorate the activism to end violence against women, it is important to recall that violence takes many forms and that all Canadians have a responsibility to stand against violence.