16DAYS OF ACTIVISIM AGAINST GENDER BASED VIOLENCE

25^TH NOVEMBER-10^TH DECEMBER

What is it?

In 1990, a group of human rights activists joined together to create a campaign to raise awareness about the violence faced by women and girls around the world. They then launched an annual campaign entitled 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence.

The ‘16 Days Campaign’ expands every year in order to call attention to gender-based violence (GBV) at the local, national, and international levels. Every year a different theme selected for the campaign.

Levels of Gender Based Violence.

There three major levels of GBV.Home Level,Community Level and State Level.

1. Home Level- It typically occurs when a man beats his female partner.  Psychological abuse always accompanies physical abuse and majority of women abused by their partners are abused many times. Physical, sexual and psychological violence against women within a couple and  in the family consists of battery, sexual abuse, female genital mutilation and other traditional practices harmful to women and girls, marital rape, dowry-related violence, incest.

1. Community Level-Physical, sexual and psychological violence occurring within the general community include battery, rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment and intimidation in school or work, forced treatments and abusive medication, the exploitation and commercialization of women’s bodies which is related to increased poverty that is mainly a result of unbridled economic liberalism.  These types of violence occurring within the general community also include contraception imposed on women by constraints or force, forced sterilization or abortions, selective abortion of female foetuses and female infanticide

1. State Level-Physical, sexual and psychological violence are too often perpetrated or tolerated by states that priorities custom or tradition over the respect of fundamental freedom.The social exclusion of women is so great that it constitutes a new form of apartheid.  Women are considered second class beings, of lesser value, deprived of their fundamental rights.  Violence against women is also exercised as a weapon of war in situations of armed conflict.

Types of Gender Based Violence.

1. Female Genital Mutilation
2. Rape
3. Commercial Sexual Exploitation
4. Women Trafficking

The 2011 Theme

“From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World:

Let's Challenge Militarism and End Violence Against Women!”

What does this mean?

This emphasizes how war, conflict, and military actions create a greater risk of violence for women and girls. For example, sexual violence is a common weapon of war that is used to terrorize and humiliate women, girls and their families and communities. War, conflict and violence break down the normal protection and safety structures in communities that help women and girls be safe. People are forced to leave their homes and seek safety in neighbouring countries. Women often travel ahead of husbands and male relatives and in these new places, especially in camp settings, they face many risks of GBV, both at home and in the community.

When does it Entail?

The 16 Days Campaign is held every year from November 25- International Day Against Violence Against Women- and December 10- International Human Rights Day- in order to symbolically link violence against women and human rights and to emphasize that such violence is a violation of human rights. This 16-day period also highlights other significant dates including between the first and last days of the campaign:

• Nov. 25^th International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
• Nov. 29^th International Women Human Rights Defenders Day
• Dec. 1^st World AIDS Day
• Dec. 2^nd International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
• Dec. 3^rd International Day of Disabled Persons
• Dec. 5^th International Volunteer Day for Social and Economic Development
• Dec. 9^th International Anti-Corruption Day
• Dec. 10^th International Human Rights Day

What can we do?

The 16 Days Campaign is used as an organizing strategy by individuals and groups around the world to call for the elimination of all forms of violence against women by:

• raising awareness about gender-based violence as a human rights issue at the local, national, regional and international levels
• strengthening local work around violence against women
• establishing a clear link between local and international work to end violence against women
• providing a forum in which organizers can develop and share new and effective strategies
• demonstrating the solidarity of women around the world organizing against violence against women
• creating tools to pressure governments to implement promises made to eliminate violence against women