April brings to light the incidence, insidiousness and impact of sexual violence. With staggering statistics throughout Nova Scotia, and Canada it is no wonder the focus of 3/4 awareness days this month are around the prevention and education of sexualized violence. Which is why we are calling on the Nova Scotia government to ensure Bill 130-Denim Day, gets its second reading on the journey to becoming an Act, and we are asking you our readers to take the personal pledge to “Start Believing. ” Read on for more information.
Sexual Assault Awareness Month (Nova Scotia) – Whole month of April 2023
April offers each of us a reminder and an opportunity to take an active role in sexual violence prevention, educate about consent, debunk myths and stereotypes and create awareness of the resources available to support victims and survivors. The Avalon Sexual Assault Centre has a number of prepared, no charge, downloadable resource to learn more. If you haven’t seen it yet, check out new graphics in their ” I don’t owe you” campaign.
Start By Believing Campaign – The First Wednesday of April
The Start by Believing Campaign was created by End Violence Against Women International (EVAWI), and this year marks the 8th year of their campaign to improve society’s collective, and multi-disciplinary response to sexual assault. Start By Believing is a public awareness campaign crosses all of North America. It seeks to create positive communities, inform the public, unite allies and supporters, and improve responses to survivors of sexualized violence. Learn more about its history and take a look at this year’s resources here.
You can Take the pledge here to become a believer and change the way the world responds to sexualized violence.
World Health Day – April 7, 2023
World Health Day, held on the 7th of April each year, is the term for an annual day dedicated to promoting the benefits of good health and well-being worldwide.
The World Health Organization will observe its 75th anniversary if world health day. In 1948, countries of the world came together and founded WHO to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable – so everyone, everywhere can attain the highest level of health and well-being. It is no wonder that this year’s theme is Health for All. #HealthForAll #WHO75
Denim Day – April 26th 2023
In the summer of 1998 in Italy, an 18-year-old girl was raped by her 45-year-old driving instructor. The Italian court granted the appeal of the rapist saying it had to be ‘consensual’ sex because she was wearing tight jeans that could have only been taken off with her help. The next day, Italian women from all professions and ages showed up in jeans to their workplaces as a way to protest the absurdity of the overturned sentence . Hence, Denim Day started as a campaign against sexual assault apologists.
On April 16, 2021, BILL NO. 130 was introduced as the Denim Day Act, a private member’s bill, by Minister Karla McFarlane, in her role as MLA in Pictou West. The bill intends to encourage Nova Scotians to wear jeans to their workplaces to communicate the message that there is no excuse for and never an invitation to commit sexual assault. While the bill has had its first reading, it has not yet progressed to the second.
So this year to celebrate Denim Day we are asking our political leaders to pick up the torch and move to pass Bill 130.