On November 26, the Table de Concertation des groupes de femmes de la Montérégie (TCGFM), of which Centre de femmes La Moisson is a member, officially launched its first campaign, La prochaine est encore en vie (The next one is still alive), as part of the 12 Days of Activism against gender-base, which began on November 25, with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

Around the world, this day coincides with the start of a series of activities known as 16 Days of Activism, which ends on the day of the commemoration of UN Human Rights Day (December 10).

December 6

In Quebec, we call it 12 Days of Activism, which ends on December 6, in commemoration of December 6, 1989, when 14 young women were murdered at Montreal's École Polytechnique simply because they were women. In 1991, following this mass feminicide, the Parliament of Canada established the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women , which is celebrated on this date.

White cloth for hanging

Néomédia spoke to Karine Giguère, coordinator of the Centre de femmes La Moisson. During these 12 days, several activities are planned by the organization. "Already today, said Ms. Giguère, ”the Centre has installed a series of 25 pieces of white fabric outside the premises, reminding us of the 25 feminicides committed in Québec in 2024.

This proposal to hang a white cloth in 2024 comes from the Table de Concertation des groupes de femmes de la Montérégie, which asks that you affix it to your front door, your balcony, your workplace, in a park, on a tree, wherever you can! This simple yet powerful gesture is intended to send a strong message of solidarity and support to the victims and their loved ones.

The Centre de femmes La Moisson recognizes various types of violence against women and girls:

- domestic and family violence;

- sexual violence and harassment;

- political violence;

- human trafficking;

- female genital mutilation;

- early marriage;

- feminicide.

This violence, including the threat of violence, shapes girls' identity from childhood, builds a permanent state of hypervigilance, limits their autonomy and freedom of action, and transforms their relationship to the world in both private and public life, believes Centre de femmes La Moisson.

The coordinator points out that 8 of the 25 feminicides committed in Quebec “occurred in the Montérégie region” and that “the majority of perpetrators of feminicide had a criminal record for domestic violence.

TCGFM, of which Centre de femmes La Moisson is a member, is calling for the following improvements to protect women and girls:

- Recognition of the systemic aspect of violence and a change in institutional practices;

- Increased funding for missions and recognition of expertise;

- The creation of dedicated resources to support victims' families;

- The improvement and maintenance of unrestricted victim support programs.

The La Prochaine Est Encore En Vie campaign cannot succeed without the active support of civil society as a whole. That's why the Centre de femmes La Moisson, in conjunction with the TCGFM, is calling on everyone involved in the fight for justice and equality to unite in spreading the message : La prochaine est encore en vie, and it's our collective responsibility to act now to keep the next one alive.

Ms. Giguère points out that yesterday, on the initiative of the Sûreté du Québec, the 12 Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women and Girlsi was taking place as part of a concerted national effort to prevent intimate partner violence.

Simultaneously, police services, support organizations and government partners across Quebec were joining forces to raise public awareness of intimate partner violence and publicize resources. It's the largest prevention operation on intimate partner violence in Quebec.

To find out about all the awareness-raising activities leading up to December 6, visit the Facebook pages and websites of the Centre de femmes La Moisson, the Table de concertation des groupes de femmes de la Montérégie - TCGFM, the UN websites on this international day and related activities, as well as those of the Conseil du statut de la Femme and the Government of Quebec.

Also read:

November 25: UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women