Violence Against Women

Our landing page, “Violence against Indigenous Women and Girls,” features background information and timelines around MMIWG and the fight against violence against Indigenous women

Our landing page, “End Violence Against Women,”  includes a timeline of the nation-wide struggle to end violence against women, and information about the organizations involved.

Screencap from A Scream from Silence

A Scream from Silence (1979) is a feature-length docudrama by Anne Claire Poirier about the assault and eventual suicide of a nurse. The film contains graphic scenes of violence – viewer discretion is advised.

thumbnail of CLC December 6th Statement 1992

Canadian Labour Congress Statement from December 6, 1992: A National Day Of Remembrance And Action On Violence Against Women.

Screencapture from the film A Safe Distance

A Safe Distance (1986) by Tina Horne spotlights some innovative approaches to providing services and accommodation for survivors in rural, northern, and Native communities.

Screencapture from the film Moving On

Moving On (1986), also by Tina Horne, documents the implementation of a community-led plan to address violence against women in London, Ontario.

thumbnail of Breaking Free report

Breaking Free: A Proposal for Change To Aboriginal Family Violence, compiled by the Ontario Native Women’s Association.

A poster for a women's rally in Toronto organized by Women Against Violence Against Women (WAVAW).

Violence against women demo poster by Women Against Violence Women in Toronto.

thumbnail of DAWN TORONTO PAPER ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES

A fact sheet about violence against women with disabilities by the DisAbled Women’s Network (DAWN).

thumbnail of Beating the Odds: Violence against Women with Disabilities

A position report by DAWN entitled “Beating the Odds”: Violence and Women with Disabilities.

Screencapture of the page about the women's movement in Guelph

A short history of the women’s shelter in Guelph called The Fourteen Day House.

Placards at the 1990 International Women's Day March in Toronto focus on ending violence against women and children. Photograph by Amy Gottlieb.

Photo: International Women’s Day 1990 (Toronto) – placards protest an end to violence against women and children.

Take Back the Night marches and vigils are organized by women in communities across Canada as a protest and form of direct action to end violence against women. This button was created by the Toronto Rape Crisis Centre is the Toronto event in September 1986.
Women Against Violence Against Women (WAVAW) was a feminist organization active especially in Toronto and Vancouver.
This British Columbia Federation of Women button brought women together with the demand to Stop Rape.
A button challenging rape myths and emphasizing that sexual activity without consent is coercive and abusive.
Wen Do was developed as a self-defense course for women and girls and continues to be an important feminist initiative that focuses on issues of sexual violence facing women and teaches women how to protect themselves. It is trans inclusive.
This pin shows support for The Toronto Rape Crisis Centre and its work with women who have experienced sexual violence and to eradicate violence against women and children. The Toronto Rape Crisis Centre was established in 1974, one of the first in Canada.
This button is one of many worn by women to raise awareness of sexual violence and demanding that it be stopped.
The button calls for justice for Pauline Au and an end to sexual harassment. After experiencing sexual harassment that started in the early 1990s, Pauline brought a charge against the hospital where she worked to the Ontario Labour Relations Board in 1997.
The December 6th Fund was created as a memorial to the fourteen women murdered on December 6, 1989 at L'Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal. It provides interest free loans to women fleeing abuse.
This button is an example of men starting to speak up as allies to end violence against women.
A button showing support for the Emily Stowe Shelter for Women and Children. The Scarborough emergency shelter for women escaping violence was named after the first woman doctor to practice in Canada.
This button commemorates the murder of 14 women, just because they were women, at L'École Polytechnique in Montreal on December 6, 1989. Although many other buttons have been designed by various groups, this button is one of the most well-recognized and worn.

Some memorable buttons from campaigns against violence against women are available on our buttons page.