Brock University will join communities around the world in marking the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, an annual campaign of remembrance, reflection and unified action.

Taking place from Tuesday, Nov. 25 to Wednesday, Dec. 10, the campaign seeks to eradicate violence against women, girls and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. It begins on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and concludes on International Human Rights Day.

Brock’s Office of Human Rights and Equity’s (HRE) Gender and Sexual Violence team will deliver programming aimed at raising awareness of the impacts of gender-based violence and celebrating the resilience of survivors.

“The 16 Days of Activism are a global call to action-because violence against girls and women has no place in our homes, our communities or our digital world,” says Taylor Court, Education Co-ordinator with HRE’s Gender and Sexual Violence team. “While these days highlight abuse against women and girls, our office also recognizes that people of all genders can be survivors of gender and sexual violence.”

This year’s campaign will also include a call to end digital violence in recognition of online safety as an essential part of gender-based violence prevention.

“As technology evolves, so do the ways individuals can be targeted, harassed and harmed,” Court says. “As a campus community, we all share the responsibility to foster digital spaces rooted in dignity, accountability and respect. Every student deserves to learn, connect and thrive — online and offline — without fear.”

A series of online workshops will run throughout the campaign exploring how stigma, criminalization, and social inequities shape the experiences of sex workers; how transphobia and transphobic violence operates and manifests; the ways technology can facilitate gender and sexual violence; how race, culture, and systemic inequities shape experiences and understandings of sexual violence; and accessibility barriers that exist within systems of support.

On Friday, Dec. 5, an event commemorating the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women will take place in RFP 214/215 from noon to 1:30 p.m. Observed annually on Dec. 6, the day marks the anniversary of the fatal 1989 shooting at Montreal’s École Polytechnique, now called Polytechnique Montreal. A memorial and group discussion will take place during Friday’s event to prompt reflection on the legacy of those lost and encourage meaningful action. Advance registration on ExperienceBU is encouraged.

The Brock community is also welcome to attend a poetry reading on Thursday, Nov. 27 at 3 p.m. and a Crafting Our Commitments workshop on Monday, Dec. 8 from 1 to 3 p.m. in TH 128A.

To support the campus community in carrying momentum of the 16 Days of Activism forward into everyday action, an online workshop, Beyond the 16 Days, will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at noon. Topics will include how gender-based violence presents on campus, practical bystander intervention tools and everyday advocacy habits.

For students in need of support, Brock’s Gender and Sexual Violence Support and Education team offers recurring drop-in sessions, taking place every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in TH 128A this semester. For more information, visit the Peer to Peer Support Drop-in webpage or email [email protected]

For more information on the 16 Days of Activism and a full list of events, visit the HRE website or ExperienceBU.