16 Ways in 16 Days

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence 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.

As the world retreated inside homes due to the lockdown measures introduced to curb the COVID-19 pandemic, reports showed an alarming increase in the already existing pandemic of violence against women.

You can make a difference during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and protracted state of crisis it has generated across the world.

You can support women and girl survivors of violence to stay safe and free of violence.

Take action during this year’s 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-Based Violence in these 16 ways below:

1. Listen to survivors.
2. Share their stories.
3. Talk about consent.
4. Involve boys and men on the GBV conversation.
5.  Break the silence on taboo topics such as GBV and child marriage.
6. Include people living with disabilities in advocacy, policies, messaging, and conversations.
7. Believe survivors
8. Make reporting easy ( ZMB call 933 or 166)
9. Teach boys from a young age to respect girls and to become men who stand against rape culture and violence against women.
10. Realize no action you take is small enough.
11. Do not hide GBV cases, GBV is a crime and crimes should not be hidden.
12. Do not make excuses for perpetrators. Nobody ever asks what ‘he’ was wearing.
13. Do not blame the victim.
14. Think holistically. Involve health actors, policy makers, civil society, and all relevant actors. GBV is a cross cutting issue to leave no one behind, everyone should be brought on board.
15. Read a lot. Share facts, figures, and stories with your networks on GBV.
16. Join this conversation. Share creative and simple ways for GBV action while staying home and staying safe.

#GBVaction #orangetheworld #stayhomestaysafe