16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence and Child Abuse Factsheet

The 16 Days of Activism against gender violence and child abuse is an annual campaign that mobilises people all around the world to focus on gender and child violence.  It starts on the 25 November and runs through to the 10 December. 

November 25th that is the International day for the elimination of violence against women.  December 1st is World AIDS Day.   December 3rd is International Day of  Disabled Persons.  The last day, 10th December is Human Rights Day.

The 16 Days Campaign has been used as mechanism by individuals and groups to organise events calling for the elimination of all forms of violence against women and children and to network within communities.  It is this time of the year that can bring people together who are working within civil society so that there is a stronger organisational base with which to assist the community.

It symbolically links gender and child violence, HIV/AIDS and human rights violations.   That is why this time of year is so important for the AIDS Consortium and its affiliates.
Around the world groups mobilise to:
• raise awareness about gender-based violence as a human rights issue at the local, national, regional and international levels
• strengthen local work around gender violence
• establish a clear link between local and international work to end gender violence
• provide a forum in which organizers can develop and share new and effective strategies
• demonstrate the solidarity of women around the world organizing against violence against women
• create tools to pressure governments to implement promises made to eliminate violence against women

What you can do on the 16 Days of Activism:
• Visit the AC Resource centre and organise information for your community
• Ask to have it delivered to your area
• Organise a community event to highlight issues in your area
• Inform and invite AC to your events planned in the 16 Days

For more information, e-mail info@aidsconsortium.org.za.