Speech for International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers

by WAVAW Counsellors, Jen Shortt and Jodie Millward

As Aboriginal women from other territories, we would like to begin by acknowledging that we are visitors to this Coast Salish Territory and we thank the Musqueam, Squamish & Tsleil-Waututh people for allowing us to be here. As we are gathered here today to speak about violence against women we cannot ignore the violent history of how this land was stolen. A history of colonization and oppression that resulted in a culture of patriarchy and violence which has set the stage for why we are here today.

We are from Women Against Violence Against Women Rape Crisis Centre. We work alongside all women, we meet women wherever they are in their healing journeys. We hold systems of oppression responsible for the violence women face at catastrophic levels in our society; colonization, racism, white supremacy, sexism, and poverty. We have a government that is failing women, Aboriginal women, low income women, ALL WOMEN. Women are systematically being targeted when all they are trying to do is get their basic needs met. Women are being ignored, shamed, blamed & targeted for additional violence, when trying to access safety from police and other institutions! Our people, our relations, our sisters are being raped & murdered & disappeared!

As women we refuse to be divided into Madonna’s and whores – a ridiculous binary created through neoliberal and conservative values. We refuse to ‘other’ our sisters to falsely feel safer or better. Instead we are working to build feminist communities, strong communities that are safe for all women despite their race, culture, age, and employment. As sisters in struggle, standing together.

We deserve better, we demand better!! We’ve been dealing with this for far too long. Our message is clear:

Women’s lives matter

All women, women from all four directions

Women’s lives matter

Women seen as equals, not as entertainment or as commodities to be bought and sold

Women’s lives matter

Women having the right to live in safety anywhere they want without fear of violence or punishment

Women’s lives matter

Women being free from patriarchy, free from rape culture, free from oppression, free from torment and pain just because we are women.

Women’s lives matter

Women treated as sacred, women seen as equal, women valued, women walking proud and strong

Women’s lives matter

NO MORE missing women, NO MORE trafficked women, NO MORE murdered women

Let’s all stand up and let it be known: Women’s lives matter.