November 25 was designated by the United Nations General Assembly as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. A day started from the memory of the murder of the Dominican revolutionary sisters, who opposed the dictatorial regime of Trujillo. Even today there are revolutionary women in the world, although the revolution is made on various levels and with different weapons. Think, for example, of the MeToo movement born to denounce the sexual violence and harassment suffered by women in the workplace, including the world of entertainment. Since 1999, all UN member States and various international associations and organizations have organized demonstrations to raise public awareness on this date. Let’s see how, this year, the city of Toronto addresses the issue.
November, 25 in Toronto
Last night #MeToo: The Press, The Mess, The Movement, organized by the Toronto Public Library, was held at the Appel Salon. A free and eco-friendly event: the organizers, in fact, invited the participants not to print the reservation, in order to reduce the consumption of paper. A conversation with two women, two revolutionaries: Megan Twohey and Robyn Doolittle. Megan, a journalist who jumped to the headlines after she published, together with her colleague Jodi Kantor, the research on sexual abuse committed by Harvey Weinstein. They earned the Pulitzer Prize for Best Public Service Journalism of 2017. And they uncovered a Pandora’s box full of abuse and harassment. Thanks to their research they also stimulated the birth of the #MeToo movement. In yesterday’s meeting Twohey talked about how the publication of the reportage acted as an incentive for other women to tell their own stories of violence experienced in the workplace.
The journalist then tried to show how such publications can help change the mentality of sexual abuse, although there is still much to be done.
The other guest in the debate was the Canadian journalist Robyn Doolittle. Appointed by the Canadian Center for Journalism journalist of the year 2017. An award she deserved thanks to the publication of Unfounded. A collection of over twenty months of research conducted on how Canada handles allegations of sexual assault. Her work too generated a chain of shock waves that reached the highest levels of the institutions. So much so that Prime Minister Trudeau announced incentives to combat gender-based violence and police training and supervision. She talked about the courage a journalist should have to bring up these stories. Of the difficulties encountered, of the fears overcome. Of the need to denounce any form of abuse by those who believe themselves stronger.
Another appointment
Also on the occasion of November 25, the international day for the elimination of violence against women, another event is scheduled for Thursday 28. Take the Lead to End Gender Based Violence starting at 5pm, at 745 Danforth Avenue. A meeting organized by Newcomer Women’s Services Toronto, in collaboration with The Sister2Sister, Ryerson’s The Newcomer Students’ Association and Millennial Womxn in Policy. It belongs to the 16 days of activism against gender violence. A campaign that begins on the 25th and ends on December 10th, Human Rights Day. The cycle of seminars on professional training Women Transitiong to Trades and Employment is also part of this review. Instead, the purpose of Thursday’s conversation on gender-based violence is to advance strategies to combat it.
But also to propose support actions for women victims of violence. Chenthoori Malankov, supporter of women who suffer violence, will take part in the conversation together with Cheyanne Ratnam who deals with welfare and right to education of children of vulnerable populations. And there will also be Sidrah Ahmad-Chan, educator, researcher and writer. She focuses her work on issues of gender-based violence, migrant justice and Islamophobia. Together with them, Arezoo Najibzadeh and her struggle for the political participation of women in Canada. Finally, Flavia Kibuuka member of Amnesty International’s Business and Human Rights Action Circle. They will speak of gender-based violence at work, in schools, in politics. Of how to convince women to raise their voices. They will talk about wage equity and rights. How to guarantee the right of women to master their body.
Featured image: Ph: Camelia.boban – Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
