35 years after Polytechnique massacre, advocates warn of evolving violence against women [Video]

Walking through the Place du 6-Decembre-1989 monument, Marina Mathieu can’t help but feel moved.

Each silver mound stands in memory of the 14 women murdered at Ecole Polytechnique 35 years ago. Though the tragedy is etched into Quebec’s collective memory, Mathieu, a project coordinator at the Quebec Women’s Federation (FFQ), says violence against women continues to run rampant.

“Being in this space today is reminding me that there’s so much work yet to be done,” she says. “The more time passes, the more we realize that violence is diversifying, it’s getting more complex…I wish I could say there’s a solution.”

Mathieu says aggression against women is morphing and migrating to cyberspaces.

The violence, though virtual, is very real.

Revenge porn, rape threats and deepfakes are endangering lives and reputations.

What starts online, can end offline.

And while technology races forward, Mathieu says the laws protecting women are lagging behind.

“All of it is not catching up fast enough,” she adds. “We as human …