Mr. Speaker, today marks the first day of the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence.
These 16 days are an opportunity to come together as Canadians and with partners from around the world to fight gender-based violence.
This year's theme, “It's Not Just”, highlights the real impact of the actions that are sometimes cast aside as playful banter, “boys being boys”, or “locker room talk”. These aggressions are not just words, and they are not “just”.
Gender-based violence limits women's income, causes health problems and perpetuates cycles of violence that can last for generations. We must not rest until all women are safe. Some members of the House have tried to gain popularity by appealing to ideologies and groups that are opposed to women's basic human rights. We believe words matter, and we will never accept narratives that can lead to gender-based violence, which must never be tolerated in Canada.
We all have a role to play in ending gender-based violence.