16 Days of Activism against violence against women and girls (VAWG)

The 16 Days of Activism against violence against women and girls (VAWG) is an annual international campaign that kicks off on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day. It was started by activists at the inaugural Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991 and continues to be coordinated each year by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership. It is used as an organizing strategy by individuals and organizations around the world to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.

In support of this civil society initiative, the United Nations Secretary-General’s UNiTE by 2030 to End Violence against Women campaign (UNiTE campaign) calls for global actions to increase awareness, galvanize advocacy efforts, and share knowledge and innovations.

The global theme for this year’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, which will run from 25 November to 10 December 2021, is “Orange the world: End violence against women now!”

What can you do?

According to the latest estimates, nearly 1 in 3 women aged 15 years and older, around the world have been subjected to physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner, non-partner or both, at least once in their lifetime, indicating that levels of VAWG have remained largely unchanged over the last decade.* The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that the world was unprepared to respond to the rapid escalation of all forms of violence against women and girls. If we want to ensure that no woman or girl is left behind, we need comprehensive and inclusive approaches that can be adapted to rapidly changing contexts, preventing and responding to all forms of violence against women and girls.

For the 16 Days of Activism, UN Women handed over the mic to survivors, activists, and UN partners on the ground, to tell the story of what happened after the COVID-19 hit. Read and share stories, get inspired by activists who are making a difference every single day, and find out how you can take action.

* World Health Organization, on behalf of the United Nations Inter-Agency Working Group on Violence Against Women Estimation and Data (VAW-IAWGED), Violence Against Women Prevalence Estimates, 2018 (Geneva, 2021).

Click here to read the story and find out about upcoming events.

Click here to find out 10 ways you can help end violence against women, even during a pandemic.

Let's turn the world orange with us!