Global estimates show that more than 5 women or girls are killed every hour by someone in their own family. This is unacceptable.

Being the most common human rights violation worldwide, violence against women and girls affects more than 1 in 3 women, a statistic that has changed very little over the last ten years.

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual campaign that begins on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs through International Human Rights Day on 10 December.

This campaign started in 1991 to call out and speak up on gender-based violence, and to renew our commitment to ending violence against women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ individuals.

Below you’ll find a list of actions you can partake in during the 16 Days of Activism. Every bit of solidarity helps.

  1. Familiarize yourself with the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women issued by the UN General Assembly in 1993 to gain more insight on how violence against women continues to be an obstacle to achieving equality, development, peace as well as to the fulfillment of women and girls’ human rights.
  2. On social media, share infographics and videos to encourage awareness of the campaign. You can use UN Women campaign hashtags: #OrangeTheWorld or #16Days
  3. Attend an event in your community to show solidarity for victims of gender-based violence.
  4. Donate to a women’s, 2SLGBTQI+, or Indigenous organization or shelter in your community that help support victims of gender-based violence.
  5. Watch a movie, video or documentary related to gender-based violence such as those available on the Canadian National Film Board website.
  6. On the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women on December 6, honour the victims of the Polytechnique Montréal tragedy by wearing a white ribbon.
  7. On December 10, Human Rights Day, familiarize yourself with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
  8. Highlight positive role models. It’s important to see others who look and act like us succeeding.
  9. Engage men and boys. The majority of men and boys do not engage in violence against women and are needed as allies to help change the culture. Men and boys can lead by example by rejecting violent behaviours toward women, girls, and non-binary people and being willing to speak out whenever they see violence or harassment directed at others.
  10. Call on leaders to criminalize sexual harassment, promote economic rights and justice for women and girls and enforce anti-GBV policies. Make ending gender-based violence a national priority and increase funding for gender-based violence programs.
  11. Talk about abuse with friends, family, and coworkers. Break the silence, show your support, and build a community that is ready to end gender-based violence. Share why ending gender-based violence is important to you.
  12. Address the escalation of violence against women and girls in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Urge your government to make the prevention and redress of violence against women and girls a key part of their national pandemic response plans.
  13. Be part of a global UNiTE network of people committed to realizing a future that is free from violence against women and girls. Join
  14. Invite a guest speaker from a women’s, 2SLGBTQI+ or Indigenous organization to talk about the challenges facing survivors of gender-based violence, as well as the programs and resources available.
  15. Connect with the UN Commission on the Status of Women 2023 theme of ‘Innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.
  16. Become an ally by adopting these simple but powerful actions all year long:
    1. Listen: be open to learning from the experiences of others.
    2. Believe: support survivors and those affected by violence.
    3. Educate: learn the facts about GBV; know what your workplace policies say about violence and harassment; take a course.
    4. Speak out: add your voice to call out violence.
    5. Intervene: find a safe way to help when you see acts of gender-based violence.
    6. Act: give your time or donate to organizations working to end gender-based violence
Categories: Human RIghts, Women's