16 days of Activism Against Gender Violence Breakfast

Other language:  Thai

Theme: Working Together to End Violence against Women & Girls Reception style breakfast at the Official Residence on November 27^th, 2014 from 8:30am – 10am

Program:

8:30-8:45 Guests arrive.

8:45-8:55 Mr. Philip Calvert, Canadian Ambassador to Thailand, delivers a welcoming speech followed by a minute of silence to commemorate victims of gender-based violence.

8:55-9:05 Ms. Roberta Clarke, Regional Director of UN Women delivers a Speech.

9:05-9:20 Dr. Amara Pongsapich, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand, delivers a keynote speech. 

Background:

Purpose of Breakfast

Canada is a strong supporter of women’s and girls’ rights both in Canada and abroad. Canada continues to prioritize women’s human rights in all bilateral relationships and multilateral fora.  Canada recognizes that the unequal treatment of women is one of the main reasons women and girls are unable to realize their basic human rights and is a contributing factor to violence against women.

This breakfast meeting will serve to bring attention to ongoing violence against women and girls and will commemorate those who have been both directly and indirectly affected by gender violence. This includes victims of the 1989 Montreal Massacre, where 14 female students were targeted and killed because of their gender. The breakfast, which is taking place during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, will speak to the importance of working together at all levels to end violence against women and girls.

16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence is an international campaign originating from the first Women's Global Leadership Institute sponsored by the Center for Women's Global Leadership in 1991.

The founding mothers of 16 Days of Activism (1991)
This picture includes Annette Pypops of Match International, Montreal who advocated that the period of activism should take into account the Montreal Massacre. (Fourth from the left at the bottom of picture). Also in the picture is Siroporn Skrobanek, President of Thailand’s Foundation for Women

Mission

The 16 Days Campaign has been used as an organizing strategy by individuals and groups around the world to call for the elimination of all forms of violence against women by: 

• raising awareness about gender-based violence as a human rights issue at the local, national, regional and international levels
• strengthening local work around violence against women
• establishing a clear link between local and international work to end violence against women
• providing a forum in which organizers can develop and share new and effective strategies
• demonstrating the solidarity of women around the world organizing against violence against women
• creating tools to pressure governments to implement promises made to eliminate violence against women

Canada’s Position and Action

The advancement, promotion and defence of women’s human rights is a key priority for the Government of Canada. Canada strongly supports engaging men and boys in efforts to tackle violence against women, and strongly condemns any discriminatory acts against women and girls. In Southeast Asia, Canada is working with UN Women to strengthen national implementation of the United Nations Convention to Eliminate All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), including through legislative reforms on domestic violence and laws protecting women’s rights.

Canada is a strong supporter of the resolution on “Intensification of efforts to eliminate violence against women” at UNGA.  Canada has in the past led on the violence against women resolution at Human Rights Council (HRC).

Upon its establishment in 2011, Canada was one of the first countries to demonstrate its commitment to the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) with funding of CDN $10 million per year.

In Southeast Asia, Canada supports the UN Women’s Project on Regional Mechanisms to Protect the Human Rights of Women and Girls in Southeast Asia with funding of CDN $3 million from 2010 – 2014 and UN Women’s Project on Improving Women’s Human Rights in Southeast Asia to support CEDAW with funding of CDN $10 million per year from 2011 - 2016.

Canada has made it a priority to advocate for the participation of women at all levels of society, especially as old regimes fall and new governments emerge in countries seeking progress, freedom and dignity. Canada provided almost $14 million in support toward ending sexual violence and encouraging the full participation of women in emerging democracies.

Canada welcomed the successful outcome of the 57^th session of the Commission on the Status of Women which focused on the elimination of violence against women, and for the first time produced Agreed Conclusions, adopted by consensus on tackling violence against women.

Canada is also a strong supporter of the UN Security Council Resolutions on women, peace and security, including through a National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, announced in October 2010. The Action Plan includes provisions to: support programming to address protection of women and girls in conflict; advocate for further implementation of international norms and standards on this issue in multilateral fora; and to prepare our personnel to respond appropriately when they are faced with serious violations of human rights, including sexual violence.

The Government is equally committed to the prevention of sexual and gender-based violence and the protection of women’s and girls’ rights in fragile and conflict-affected communities.  Canada supports projects that work to prevent and address violence against women and girls in the developing world.