As a voice for the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence from November 25 to December 10, 2024, we encourage everyone in the community to learn and act on preventing, addressing and transforming gender-based violence – individually and collectively. 

This can look like checking in with your friends and loved ones, speaking out when you recognize gender-based violence, and asking questions about gender-based violence to see what step(s) you can take. 

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international call to end gender-based violence – any form of harm against persons based on their gender identity, how they express themselves or existing stereotypes.

The campaign began in 1991 and was initiated by activists during the Women’s Global Leadership Institute at Rutgers University. Running from November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to December 10, Human Rights Day, the campaign calls attention to the need to end all forms of gender-based violence. In 2008, the UN introduced its UNITE! by 2030 campaign to accelerate global efforts toward ending violence against women, with this year’s theme being “UNITE! To Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls” and the hashtag #NoExcuses encouraging global solidarity.

While gender-based violence affects anyone, some experience it more frequently and in more distinct ways than others – particularly girls and gender-diverse youth. Notably, the magnitude of their experience varies depending on how intricately gender identity, gender expression or perceived gender overlap and intertwine with different factors contributing to the sense of safety. These include but are not limited to race, ethnicity, sexuality, age, living conditions, health, mobility, accessibilities, exceptionalities, religion, citizenship, history and more.

Girls Inc. of Northern Alberta knows that there are unique layers of existing and newly emerging gendered barriers, challenges, and vulnerabilities that girls particularly go through. We also know that each girl experiences these barriers differently depending on how and where you are situated in various spaces – home, school, community, domestic-international, media, online, etc.

Our #GirlsToo program tackles this complex issue head-on. Building on #MeToo, #GirlsToo is a movement in and of itself. It calls out that #MeToo is not just an 18+ movement. Respect starts young. Actions start young. Changes start young.

Supported largely by the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo and the Government of Canada, #GirlsToo empowers girls aged 9-18 to become agents of change in their communities. It does so by creating a cultural shift, breaking the silence around gender-based violence, and providing preventative education around consent, gender equality, online safety, and healthy relationships. The program is centered around girls-led advocacy using ‘art’ as a transforming, advocating and healing tool. It specifically focuses on the challenges faced by Northern girls and the need for allyship in transforming harmful societal norms.

One action from Girls Inc. of Northern Alberta for this year’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is to expand the scope of our #GirlsToo program. 

• With a recent curriculum revision, we are offering programming and workshops around online safety and cyberbullying to girls ages 6-8 and practitioners such as teachers. 
• Through our social media platforms, we will share informative content and resources to equip our followers better. Follow #GirlsToo and @GirlsIncOfNAB 
• We will start off with Combating Gender Violence in Sport Workshop in light of emerging global discussions on gender-based violence in sports. Participants will learn about sexism, misogyny, and discrimination in sports while creating a vision board for a more inclusive and empowering future in athletics.
• Self-Defense and Healthy Relationships Workshop will go beyond physical techniques, emphasizing the importance of using one’s voice to stay safe and fostering confidence in speaking up when witnessing injustice. 
• The final workshop,  Empowering Voices: Disability and Gender-Based Violence, will take place on International Day for Persons with Disabilities. Girls will learn about how having disabilities can make someone more vulnerable to gender-based violence, how to recognize the signs, and who to talk to if they or someone they know needs help. The workshop will be co-facilitated with an Indigenous knowledge keeper so that participants can reflect on dynamic perspectives of fighting systemic violence.
• All planned workshops are 100% cost-free and gender-specific. Register via Parent Portal.
• To symbolize the commencement and conclusion of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, the Silin Creek Bridge will be illuminated in striking red lights on November 25th and December 10th. We hope that this visual display will urge the community to combat gender-based violence and promote gender equality. 
• A major highlight of our girls-led advocacy effort will be the collaborative art project created by the girls throughout the month prior to the campaign. The collective art will symbolize their stance against gender-based violence. This artwork will be featured at a public venue during the 16 days at Syncrude Sport & Wellness Center. Take a selfie & post with  #GirlsToo and #16Days and tag us @GirlsIncOfNAB.
• The above-mentioned piece will be displayed at the highly anticipated Women of Inspiration Celebration Gala on March 8, 2025 – on the International Women’s Day.
• Early bird tickets are only available until December 20, which can be purchased here.

HIGHLIGHTS: 
Monday November 25th – Tuesday December 10th 

Month-long advocacy art piece — To be on display at: Syncrude Sport & Wellness Center

Monday November 25th  & Tuesday December 10th 

Silin Creek Bridge lit up for International Day of the Elimination of Violence against Women (November 25) and Human rights Day (December 10) 

• • • • • Kicking off with a proclamation reading by Mayor Bowman on Monday November 25 @4:45pm-5:15pm

Tuesday November 26 – Tuesday December 31st

16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence In-Theatre Display at Landmark Cinemas Fort McMurray

Tuesday, December 10th 6 – 8 pm

Candlelight Vigil for Victims of Gender-Based Violence – Location TBD – Please contact the office or follow our social media for more info 

WORKSHOPS — Register via  Parent Portal

Tuesday, November 26th 4:30 – 7 pm – Combating Gender Violence in Sports

Thursday, November 28th 4:30 – 7 pm – Self Defense / Healthy Relationships

Tuesday, December 3rd 4:30 – 7 pm – Empower Voices: Disability & Gender-Based Violence 

• • • • • Silin Creek Bridge lit up for International Day for Persons with Disabilities 

We invite you to participate in this campaign by engaging in any form of activism — whether it’s through sharing information on social media or organizing a candlelight vigil for the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women on December 6. This day honours the 14 women tragically murdered at Polytechnique Montréal in 1989 and reminds us that gender-based violence remains a critical issue in our society.

For more information on how you can get involved, please visit our website at https://girlsincofnorthernalberta.org/register-a-girl or contact us directly via admin@girlsincofnorthernalberta.org or 780 790 9236.

It is our hope that #GirlsToo calls for actions from everyone to create changes by learning how inequality and violence are at work in our community and the world, how each person experiences intersecting barriers and violence of various forms differently – and how we as human beings can strengthen resilience to gender-based violence.

How will you act?

Sincerely,

Nanse Tonda
Executive Director, Girls Inc. of Northern Alberta