The Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) marks Canada’s National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women by honouring the memory of the 14 young women murdered — simply because they were women — at Montreal’s École Polytechnique in 1989.

CAUT strongly denounces all forms of violence, and on this day condemns gender-based violence, of which violence against women and girls is one form.

Women are 20% more likely than men to be victims of violence, and young women face almost twice the risk than young men. This year, Canada announced its strategy to prevent and address gender-based violence. While CAUT applauds this positive step, it is clear that much more needs to be done to counter the discrimination and intolerance that contribute to gender-based violence throughout our country.

On this day of remembrance and action, CAUT commits to campaigning for increased support for victims, and to continue to work toward ending the scourge of gender-based violence.

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Listen to CAUT’s online town hall to learn about critical research underway in Canada asking how to eliminate gender-based violence.