November 9, 2020

 

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

The UN reports of a “Shadow pandemic,” where all forms of gender-based violence have intensified as a result of Covid-19 lockdown and social distancing measures. Our current reality places women and gender minorities at further risk of violence with the loss or reduction of face-to-face support systems.

Teaming Up

The Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW Nanaimo) and the VIU Faculty Association’s (VIUFA) Status of Women Committee are teaming up to ask you to voice your support for 16 days of activism against gender-based violence. Now, more than ever, we need to make our voices heard.

Call for Videos

We call upon women and their allies to voice support for this international campaign led by the United Nations. It runs from November 25, 2020 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) to December 10, 2020 (Human Rights Day).

How to participate:

1.     Create a 1-minute video to express support for women and gender minorities at risk of gender-based violence. Ideas: draw on the UN theme for this year’s campaign which is “Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect!”, the City of Nanaimo’s renewed Proclamation, or say what is needed to eliminate gender-based violence.

2.     Share the video through a file-sharing program such as Google Drive, DropBox, or MS One Drive and send it to womenactnanaimo@gmail.com by November 24, 2020.  We recommend file-sharing because there can be technical issues with video-based email attachments. Please email us if you need technical assistance. Use the subject line: 16 Days Video Submission and include your first and last name in the email.

3.     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.  Sample video: https://viuvideos.viu.ca/media/16+Days+of+Activism+Against+Gender-Based+Violence%2C+2020.mp4/0_i0pm7cux. Please email your video by November 24, 2020.

With gratitude and in solidarity,

Melissa Stephens, VIUFA’s Status of Women Committee &
Suzanne Relick, The Canadian Federation of University Women (Nanaimo)