TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 01/17/13 -- The Ontario Federation of Labour is joining with people around the world in a global movement to demand an end to violence against women and girls. One million workers in Ontario are adding their collective voices and efforts to support ONE BILLION RISING - an international day of action, dance and resistance on February 14, 2013.

The OFL reaffirms its support for the important work of ONE BILLION RISING, first announced in its statement for December 6th, Canada's National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

"Through the ONE BILLION RISING campaign, women and men are coming together to challenge gender-based violence - the world's largest and most persistent human rights violation," said OFL President Sid Ryan. "The shocking prevalence of violence, abuse and sexual assault of women in every country reveals the unacceptable persistence of systemic sexism and misogyny."

Despite the violent news reports that continue to shock the international community and the evidence that many more incidents go unreported, uninvestigated and unnoticed, Canadian authorities refuse to act on far too many cases of violence against women and, in particular, the violence against Aboriginal women.

The OFL encourages all of its affiliates and individual members to join the ONE BILLION RISING global protest and visit the campaign website to sign on (http://onebillionrising.org).

Visit the OFL website at http://ofl.ca/index.php/campaigns/onebillionrising2013 and download the Action Plan: http://ofl.ca/wp-content/uploads/OFL-1BR-ActionAlert.pdf.

"We are calling for collective and individual actions across Ontario and Canada in support of this incredible movement to put an end to violence against women and girls," said OFL Secretary-Treasurer Nancy Hutchison. "Here in Canada, workers actions will place a particular focus on the demand for a National Inquiry into the missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls. Canada's neglect of these women is a national shame."

Over 600 Aboriginal women have been murdered and disappeared in the past 30 years. Aboriginal women are three times more likely to report being the victim of a violent crime. While Aboriginal women make up only three percent of Canada's female population, they make up 10 percent of all murdered women. The OFL is calling workers to sign and circulate the petition of the Native Women's Association of Canada on this issue (www.NWAC.ca).

"The OFL is committed to building a better, safer and more inclusive Canada. We reaffirm our commitment to the fair, equitable and respectful treatment of all people and will continue to speak out against the intolerable acts of violence against women and girls," said Hutchison.

The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) represents 54 unions and one million workers in Ontario. For information, visit www.OFL.ca and follow the OFL on Facebook and Twitter: @OFLabour. Follow OFL President Sid Ryan on Twitter: @SidRyan_OFL.