Global Initiative Launches 16-Day Activism Campaign to Combat Violence Against Women & Girls
UN Launches 16-Day Global Campaign to End Violence Against Women and Girls
As the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women approaches on November 25, the United Nations (UN) has announced a 16-day global campaign to combat and eradicate violence against women and girls. Led by UN Women and the Secretary-General, this initiative will extend until December 10, International Human Rights Day, uniting individuals worldwide in taking a stand against gender-based violence.
The theme for this year’s campaign is “Taking Active Steps to End Violence Against Women and Girls.” It emphasizes the need for unified efforts to combat this pervasive issue and calls for widespread participation. The campaign will use the color orange as a symbolic representation of a future free from violence against women and girls. Various events are planned to raise awareness, advocate for change, and foster dialogue. One such event is an official gathering at the UN on November 23, which will be accessible to the public through online broadcasts on UN Women or UN TV.
The core objective of the campaign is to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls in all its forms. It specifically focuses on physical, sexual, and psychological violence, including partner violence, sexual harassment, human trafficking, female genital mutilation, and child marriages. Through collective mobilization and activism, the campaign aims to stand in solidarity with women’s rights movements globally, opposing any regression in women’s rights and striving for a world free from violence.
The Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, adopted in 1993, defines violence against women as any act of violence based on gender that causes physical, sexual, or psychological harm or suffering. This includes threats, coercion, or deprivation of liberty in both public and private life.
The impact of violence against women extends to adverse psychological, sexual, and reproductive health outcomes, affecting women at all stages of life. Vulnerable groups, such as young girls, older women, LGBTQ+ individuals, migrants, indigenous populations, those with disabilities, and individuals in humanitarian crises, are particularly at risk.
Violence against women is a significant impediment to achieving equality, development, and peace. The core principle of the Sustainable Development Goals, which is to leave no one behind, cannot be realized without putting an end to violence against women.
The UN’s 16-day campaign serves as a reminder of the urgent need to address this global issue and work towards creating a future where women and girls are free from violence.
