Brighton’s benches and other municipally owned property are being adorned with orange bows to support both local efforts and a global campaign to end violence against women.
Municipality of Brighton council recently voted to support the UN’s “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” by proclaiming November 25 to December 10 as “Orange Days, End Violence Against Women and Girls.”
This past Tuesday (November 25) was the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the first of the 16 days of activism.
“Brighton council chose to support Orange Days because we believe strongly in promoting safety, equality, and respect within our community,” Municipality of Brighton Mayor Brian Ostrander told kawarthaNOW.
“Violence against women and girls is a global issue, and it also affects women, girls and families locally. By joining this initiative, we aim to raise awareness and encourage conversations that lead to meaningful change.”
Ostrander said the orange bows throughout the municipality help make “a visible commitment” and a statement about “standing in solidarity” to help end gender-based violence.
“Our hope is that these ribbons spark dialogue, remind people of the importance of this cause, and inspire collective action to create a safer environment for everyone,” the mayor noted.
The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign is supported by the UNiTE to End Violence against Women initiative, launched in 2008 under the leadership of the UN Secretary-General and managed by the United Nations Programme for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (also known as UN Women).
The theme of this year’s campaign is “End digital violence against all women and girls,” with UNiTE noting that 16 to 58 per cent of women and girls face violence online.
“Misogynistic content in the manosphere is fuelling the abuse and spreading disinformation and hate,” UNiTE states. “When these toxic ideas go viral, they shape how entire generations see and treat women and girls.”
UNiTE is calling for perpetrators to be held accountable through better laws and enforcement and for tech companies to hire more women to create safer online spaces, remove harmful content quickly, and respond to reports of abuse. Other calls for action include supporting survivors with resources by funding women’s rights organizations and movements and investing in prevention and culture change through digital literacy and online safety training for women and girls, along with programs that challenge toxic online cultures.
In Northumberland County, UNiTE and the 16 days of activism campaign is being supported by Grandmothers Advocacy Network (GRAN) Northumberland, which advocates for the human rights of grandmothers and vulnerable children who face violence in their daily lives, addressing the widespread issue of violence against women and girls globally, including in Canada.
Sharon Graham with GRAN Northumberland recently called for Brighton council to issue an official proclamation and recognize the UN’s 16 days of activism campaign, and asked for council’s permission to display orange ribbons in public spaces to help highlight UNiTE and the 16 days of activism campaign.
Other townships, municipalities, and community partners in Northumberland County are also supporting the 16 days of activism campaign, including the Cobourg Police Service, Port Hope Police Service, and Cobourg Fire Service, by participating in the efforts to end gender-based violence.
November is also Woman Abuse Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness as gender-based violence continues to be a growing concern across Ontario. Cobourg’s Cornerstone Family Violence Prevention Centre said those are a few organizations that are raising “Wrapped in Courage” flags to show their support for the cause.
The Wrapped in Courage campaign, organized by the Ontario Association of Interval & Transition Houses (OAITH), calls on gender-based violence agencies across Ontario to ask community members to wear a purple scarf to show their support for survivors of gender-based violence within their community.
OAITH has shared that there have been more than 35 femicides reported since November 26, 2024.
“Unfortunately, rates of gender-based violence remain high across Ontario, and the need for our services continues to grow,” said Cornerstone’s executive director, Nancy Johnston, in a statement. “Last year alone, Cornerstone provided service to more than 3,000 women, children and youth through shelter, counselling, housing, and prevention programming.”
Throughout November, supporters in Northumberland County have raised Wrapped in Courage flags to demonstrate compassion to those impacted by gender-based violence and make a commitment to work together to create a future free from violence.
