- The Rose Campaigns remembers the women who lost their lives on December 6, 1989
- Geneviève Bergeron
- Hélène Colgan
- Nathalie Croteau
- Barbara Daigneault
- Anne-Marie Edward
- Maud Haviernick
- Maryse Laganière
- Maryse Leclair
- Anne-Marie Lemay
- Sonia Pelletier
- Michèle Richard
- Annie St-Arneault
- Annie Turcotte
- Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz
From November 25, the International Day to Eliminate Violence against Women and Girls, to December 6, our National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, YWCA Canada's Rose Campaign draws attention to violence against all women and girls and the need for action. The campaign name originates from a rose button created after 14 young women were murdered on December 6, 1989 in Montréal at L’École Polytechnique.
In 1989, the first rose button read: First Mourn, Then Work for Change.
In 2016, violence against women and girls permeates our daily news, our social media and our entertainment. From the American presidential election to Judge Robin Camp’s “why couldn’t you just keep your knees together?”, public discourse on sexual assault still excuses men who assault, and blames women who’ve been assaulted. Rose Campaign 2016 supports the movement for change with #NeverBlameTheVictim.
The Rose Campaign honours missing and murdered First Nations, Métis and Inuit women and girls. #NeverBlameTheVictim requires prompt police responses to reports of missing Indigenous women and girls and due diligence in investigations and prosecutions.
Rose Campaign 2016 is proud to support the UN 16 Days of Global Activism on Gender-based Violence, coordinated in Canada by Women in International Security, as a partner with the Native Women’s Association of Canada and the Canadian Network of Women’s Shelters and Transition Houses.
Tweet at your MP and tell them to take action against blaming women for sexual assault in the justice system using #NeverBlameTheVictim.
Donate to end violence against all women and girls.
Light the Night against violence on December 6.