16 Days of Activism 2024 Recap

As we conclude the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence 2024—an annual global movement uniting voices in the fight to end all forms of gender-based violence—we are reminded that this work is urgent and ongoing.

From November 25th, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, to December 10th, Human Rights Day, the BWSS team has remained unwavering in our commitment. Through impactful resources and meaningful events, we have worked tirelessly to address the pervasive issue of gender-based violence.

For 45 years, BWSS has stood on the frontlines, and we invite you to join us in taking action against the epidemic and endemic of gender-based violence.

Take action today: donate to support survivors of violence, share our resources, and work with us to end gender-based violence. Together, we can bring safety and take action to end gender-based violence—because safety changes everything.

BWSS united influential voices in a press conference and call to action, confronting the interconnected crises of housing precarity, sexualized violence, intimate partner violence, femicide, and the disproportionate violence experienced by Indigenous women and girls. The event called for immediate systemic change to address these urgent issues.

Continuing this vital advocacy, the Justice Centre at BWSS hosted In Pursuit of Justice!: Taking Action on Violence Against Women and Gender-Based Violence, two-day conference will address the key challenges and solutions for taking action on violence against women, girls, and gender-diverse people. More than 100 participants joined in person and virtually to take part in impactful keynotes, expert panels, and in-depth community discussions.

The conference featured community leaders and keynote speakers Sandra DeLaronde, Project Lead of Giganawenimaanaanig; Meseret Haileyesus, Executive Director of the Canadian Centre for Women’s Empowerment; and Dr. Margaret Jackson, a criminology professor at Simon Fraser University and Director of the Institute for Studies in Criminal Justice Policy. Their knowledge and leadership empowered attendees to transform discussions into taking action.

Watch the Conference: 

The Province of British Columbia proclaimed November 26 as “Economic Abuse Day,” and on that day, we hosted day two of the In Pursuit of Justice! conference. Meseret Haileyesus, Executive Director of the Canadian Centre for Women’s Empowerment, shared insights on Building a Safety Net Against Economic Abuse.

Watch the Day 2 of the Conference:

Gender-based violence is both an epidemic and an endemic issue in our society, and for 45 years, Battered Women’s Support Services (BWSS) @endingviolence has been at the forefront, tirelessly working to end it and provide life-saving support to survivors. This video begins with Margaret Mitchell—a social activist, community developer, and courageous feminist whose groundbreaking work challenged the normalization of violence against women. Today, BWSS continues her legacy and that of countless other feminists, answering over 52,000 service requests last year alone. Each request represents a woman facing violence, often in life-threatening situations, and highlights the urgent reality of gender-based violence and the critical need for unwavering support and action.

BWSS proudly announced the name of Synchronicity, a Second-Stage Transition House Program. This transformative initiative provides survivors of intimate partner violence with the safety, resources, and support they need to rebuild their lives.At BWSS, we recognize that ending gender-based violence begins with a safe home with a program designed to transform the impacts of intimate partner violence. That’s why BWSS is proud to introduce Synchronicity—a new and critical program that offers survivors more than just a safe place to begin healing.

The housing continuum for victim-survivors of violence in British Columbia highlights the spectrum of housing options, ranging from the least stable to the most stable. It spans from street homelessness to second-stage transitional housing, such as the BWSS Housing Program – Synchronicity, ultimately progressing to market housing. Options for safe homes for women and children escaping from violence are limited and over capacity. Women fleeing violence deserve better, and safe, stable housing is a fundamental right for all women and children.

BWSS released its report, Justice or Just a Piece of Paper? Protection Orders in British Columbia, based on 2023 research with frontline workers and victims-survivors across BC. The report examines the shortcomings of protection orders and peace bonds, highlighting systemic barriers that undermine safety and offering actionable solutions.

Key recommendations include mandatory coroner’s inquests for femicide deaths, a two-year minimum duration for protection orders and peace bonds, full-length protection orders on without notice applications, and universal enforcement of protection orders.

Because of your generosity, this Giving Tuesday we raised $35,218.60. Your generosity can fund critical life-saving services for 350 survivors. Thank you for your support!

The language used to describe violence shapes how society perceives its root causes and potential solutions. Terms like family violence, violence against women, male violence against women, and gender-based violence each carry unique implications, offering distinct strengths and limitations.

We shared an analysis and critique of these terms, including concerns about the shift toward gender-neutral language.

We observed the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, drawing attention to the ongoing femicide epidemic in Canada. Remembering and honouring the 14 women murdered in the Montreal Massacre and all victims of femicide.

We also recognized The Marker for Change, a striking installation in Thornton Park, was unveiled in 1997 after years of advocacy, fundraising, and collaboration spearheaded by the Women’s Monument Committee. This monument represents more than a tribute; it is a bold and enduring call to action. Each element of the memorial—the circular design, the engraved names, and the central space for reflection—invites visitors to confront the realities of male violence and commit to systemic change. It stands as both a place of mourning and a site of collective resolve to end gender-based violence. The Marker for Change is a testament to this ongoing fight and a rallying point for action against male violence in every form.

On the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, marking the tragic Montreal Massacre on December 6, 1989, when 14 women were horrifically murdered at École Polytechnique by a man who explicitly targeted them because of their gender, believing they were “feminists,” we hosted a community gathering to amplify the voices of survivors and families affected by femicide.

This gathering not only served as a space for remembrance but also as a call to action. It was an opportunity for individuals and communities to stand in solidarity with survivors, demand accountability from all levels of government, and advocate for societal and systemic change.

The Lifetime Spiral of Gender Violence serves as a powerful illustration of how gender violence operates as a pervasive and systemic issue, deeply rooted in intersecting forms of oppression, such as patriarchy, racism, colonialism, ableism, classism, and heteronormativity. It demonstrates that gender violence is an umbrella term, encompassing a vast array of abuses and structural inequalities that disproportionately target women and marginalized groups throughout their lives.

On Human Rights Day, the Battered Women’s Support Services logo—a design of three dots, one boldly coloured in—stands as a powerful symbol of both crisis and hope. At its core, it represents the staggering reality that 1 in 3 women worldwide will experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. But this logo is more than a statistic. Its bold simplicity and deliberate design serve as a universal call to action, much like the unmistakable clarity of a stop sign, urging us to end violence against women with urgency and conviction.

“10 great Vancouver thrift stores for bargain hunters to check out”

Outlet: Daily Hive
Author: Daniel Chai
Date Published: October 15, 2024

Summary: My Sister’s Closet is named one of Daily Hive’s great Vancouver thrift stores for bargain hunters.

Key Takeaways: Highlighting 10 great thrift stores in Vancouver.

“We need action: Advocates rally to eliminate violence against women”

Outlet: City News
Author: Natasha O’Neill
Date Published: November 26, 2024

Summary: Advocates rallying for the elimination of violence against women urge immediate policy action. BWSS’s Angela Marie MacDougall speaks about the systemic issues exacerbating femicide rates and the need for change.

Key Takeaways: Advocacy for swift, comprehensive action against gender-based violence, particularly targeting housing and law enforcement reforms.

“Femicide rates in B.C. have reached critical levels, report finds”

Outlet: Global News
Author: Amy Judd
Date Published: December 2, 2024

Summary: This article covers alarming statistics about femicide rates in B.C. and stresses the need for stronger policies on housing and legal protection to curb the issue. BWSS’s report calls for immediate action.

Key Takeaways: Urgency to address femicide rates and advocate for policy changes to protect women.

“Report outlines failures limiting effectiveness of peace bonds and protection orders”

Outlet: Global News
Date Published: December 2, 2024

Summary: The BWSS report outlines the shortcomings of peace bonds and protection orders in preventing violence. BWSS Executive Director Angela Marie MacDougall discusses the findings and the need for systemic reform.

Key Takeaways: Systemic issues in legal protections for women and a call for stronger preventive measures.

“B.C. police failing to enforce ‘restraining orders’ too often, report finds”

Outlet: CTV
Author: Andrew Weichel
Date Published: December 3, 2024

Summary: CTV reports that police in B.C. frequently fail to enforce restraining orders, putting women at risk. The report calls for more resources, training, and accountability in law enforcement.

Key Takeaways: Highlighting the systemic gaps in law enforcement’s response to gender-based violence.

You are not alone.

If you or someone you love is in need of support, please contact the Battered Women’s Support Services Crisis Line:

Call toll-free: 1-855-687-1868 Metro Vancouver: 604-687-1867 Email: EndingViolence@bwss.org