2025-2026 Purple Ribbon Campaign

Shame Must Change Sides: No stigma on survivors

The 2025-2026 Purple Ribbon Campaign Against Violence Against Women theme states that the accountability for violence must be placed on those who perpetrate violence, not on those who are victims. Shame must change sides was the sentiment of Gisele Pelicot, the French woman who suffered horrific sexual violence at the hands of her husband and numerous men in her small village. Gisele inspired women and survivors of gender-based violence the world over with her profound courage in sharing her story publicly, and thereby shaming her rapists. We believe survivors and we demand that abusers take responsibility for their actions.

The purple ribbons are worn in honour and remembrance of the 14 women murdered in Montreal in 1989, and the 10 women murdered in PEI since 1989 by someone who knew them. We also wear purple ribbons as a call for justice for the tragic number of murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls in Canada. Volunteers cut and pin thousands of purple ribbons to bookmarks, so that they can be distributed to individuals and organizations across the Island. We are especially appreciative of Women’s Institute members, who will pin most of the 10,000 ribbons to bookmarks in 2025. WI members are also key in distributing the ribbons to communuities across PEI.

In addition to the purple ribbons and bookmarks, we have created a multilingual poster featuring the 2025-2026 gender-based violence prevention message in 12 languages (historical and current usage in PEI). Slideshows and other materials developed for use by teachers and students, including the Teen Power & Control Wheel, are available on our website:

https://peistatusofwomen.ca/purple-ribbon-campaign/resources-for-teachers/

All resources created in 2025 and in previous years are available in hard copy on request – we are happy to share the message of equality and violence prevention to individuals and communities across PEI.