November 11, 2021

Dear Educators, Service Providers, Cultural Workers, and Citizens:

The VIU Faculty Association’s Status of Women Committee calls upon community leaders, service providers, educators, activists, and citizens to participate in our second annual video campaign supporting 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence, an international campaign led by the United Nations. This campaign runs from November 25, 2021 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) to December 10, 2021 (Human Rights Day). 

The Centre for Women’s Global Leadership calls for “Awareness. Action. Accountability. All Year Round” and, indeed, this speaks to the crucial work by many local organizations, educators, and citizens to support survivors of gender-based violence and to eliminate gender-based violence.  UN Women report that “Violence against women and girls (VAWG), and particularly domestic violence, has dramatically escalated around the world in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.” More than ever, we need to unite to promote action.

Our video campaign aims to raise awareness and motivate action, while the VIUFA Status of Women will support and organize additional events during the 16 Days. Please respond to this campaign by submitting a video.

How to participate:

  1. Create a 1 to 2-minute video expressing support for women and gender minorities at risk of gender-based violence.

Videos could include diverse delivery such as song, poetry, storytelling, information, or advocacy. View our 2020 campaign here. Your video could draw on the UN goal to “Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect!”, the City of Nanaimo’s 2021 Proclamation to End Violence Against Women, or say what is needed to eliminate gender-based violence. To promote education and awareness, we will invite some individuals/organizations to contribute specific videos on topics ranging from consent to decolonization.

  1. Email the video to womenactnanaimo@gmail.com by November 22, 2021. The sooner the better. Use a file-sharing program such as Google Drive, DropBox, or MS One Drive. We recommend file-sharing because there can be technical issues with video-based email attachments. Please email if you need technical assistance. Use the subject line: 16 Days Video Submission and include your first and last name in the email. Indicate if we can include your name/organization in the title of your video. You may also send the video via Facebook Messenger to the VIU Status of Women Facebook page.
  2. Share video links during 16 Days of Activism. Videos will be posted on YouTube and can be shared on social media. Links will also be available on the VIUFA home page. We will send participants an email with links to use when they are ready.  Please email your video by November 22, 2021.

Join us and other organizers during these 16 days, and beyond, to advocate for inclusive, diverse, and culturally sensitive work that prioritizes anti-racism, decolonization, and gender diversity in the effort to eliminate gender-based violence. Additional events and actions will be posted on social media and can be found at the VIU Faculty Association website in the coming days.

With gratitude and in solidarity,

VIUFA’s Status of Women Committee    

Naomi Bailey, Joy Gugeler, Vicki Nygaard, Katharine Rollwagen, and Melissa Stephens