16 Days of Activism: What is this all about?

The general idea of this newsletter is creating awareness—why would people act if they don’t know? We all operate based on what we know, sticking to the same habits until we discover new information that prompts change.

Prior to this, we planned to explore the Sustainable Development Goals in detail (which we still will). However, this is a crucial time to discuss the 16 Days of Activism so you can understand why you might see so many posts about it (in case you don’t already know) and why it’s observed year after year.

The campaign runs from November 25th, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, to December 10th, Human Rights Day. It aims to raise awareness and inspire action to end violence against women, a profound breach of human rights.

This year marks 25 years since the United Nations General Assembly designated November 25th as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The date honors the Mirabal sisters, political activists brutally murdered in 1960 for standing up for their rights under dictator Rafael Trujillo.

What is violence against women? According to the UN, “violence against women” means any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion, or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.”

Statistics that call for urgent action Why are we still fighting this? According to UN Women:

• In 2023, every 10 minutes, partners and family members intentionally killed a woman or girl.
• 1 in 3 women experience violence in their lifetime.
• 51,100 women were murdered by partners or family members in 2023.

Far too often, women remain in abusive and violent situations because they feel there is no hope. By raising awareness and funding agencies and organizations that combat violence against women, we show these women that there are safe spaces for them to speak up, recover, and heal.

What action do we need to take?

• “End impunity?by holding perpetrators accountable and establishing zero tolerance of violence against women and girls.
• Adopt, implement, and fund National Action Plans to end violence against women and girls.
• Invest in prevention and women’s rights organizations to ensure rights and access to essential services for survivors.” – UN Women
• Share posts, articles, videos, or any information source that raises awareness about these issues.
• Support organizations fighting for women’s rights through financial contributions or by volunteering on their projects.

Today is day 8 of the 16 Days of Activism, and while there’s a flood of information about violence against women right now, we need to remember that the fight doesn’t end here. Even after these 16 days, the work must continue. Over the next few days, I’ll highlight more key issues to help us better understand this global crisis.

Till next time, See you.

Resources

1. https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/2024-10/unite_16_days_2024_concept_note_final_oct4.pdf
2. https://www.unwomen.org/en/get-involved/16-days-of-activism
3. https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/mirabal-sisters-murdered/#:~:text=On%20November%2025%2C%201960%20while,beaten%20to%20death%20with%20clubs.
4. https://www.un.org/en/genocideprevention/documents/atrocity-crimes/Doc.21_declaration%20elimination%20vaw.pdf