International Women’s Day celebrates the invaluable contributions of women in all aspects of our society. It was formally adopted by the United Nations in 1977.

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April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month in Manitoba. Our goal during Sexual Assault Awareness Month is to raise awareness about the prevalence of sexual assault, share information about available resources, and foster a greater understanding of consent.

Sexual violence is a serious issue across Canada, but especially in Manitoba. According to a Statistics Canada’s Survey, in 2018 there were 1,528 police-reported sexual assaults in Manitoba. This is a rate of more than 113 sexual violence victims for every 100,000 people. This is significantly higher than the national rate, which is 77 victims per 100,000 population.

These are alarming statistics – but even more alarming is that research shows 95 per cent of sexual assaults aren’t reported to the police.

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The Minister responsible for Gender Equity Manitoba has proclaimed April 14, 2020, as the Non-Consensual Distribution of Intimate images Awareness Day in partnership with The Shameless Circle.

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In 2018, the Government of Canada proclaimed the fourth week of September as Gender Equality week.

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October is Women's History Month. This month represents an opportunity to highlight the past and present contributions of women to from all walks of life as a vital part of our society. Each year, the Manitoba Women’s Advisory Council organizes an event to commemorate this month.

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October 11th is International Day of the Girl. The United Nations first declared the day in December 2011. It is a time to celebrate and recognize girls from Manitoba, to reflect on the achievements of girls and how to remove barriers that prevent girls from reaching their full potential. We encourage individuals, organizations and agencies from across our province to hold events and celebrate in their own way.

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The 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence is an annual international campaign designed to raise awareness and direct action towards ending gender-based violence. The campaign runs each year from November 25 - International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to December 10 - International Human Rights Day, emphasizing that violence against women is a Human rights issue.

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On December 6, 1989, 14 women were killed in a gender-based act of violence at l’École Polytechnique de Montréal.

They were:

Gender Equity Manitoba commemorates this day annually, honouring the 14 women killed this day in 1989 and to remember the women in Manitoba who die every year in an act of violence.

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