The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence against women is an international campaign originating from the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute. “16 Days,” as it has become known, was launched and continues to be coordinated by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership.

The dates for the campaign were chosen to link violence against women and human rights and emphasize that gender-based violence against women is a violation of human rights: since 1991, the campaign has been active between November 25, the International Day Against Violence Against Women, and December 10, International Human Rights Day.

This 16-day period also highlights other significant dates including November 29, International Women Human Rights Defenders Day; December 1, World AIDS Day; and December 6, which marks the Anniversary of the Montreal Massacre.  

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

• raise awareness about gender-based violence against women as a human rights issue at the local, national, regional and international levels
• strengthen local work around gender-based violence against women
• establish a clear link between local and international work to end gender-based violence against women
• provide a forum in which organizers can develop and share new and effective strategies
• demonstrate the solidarity of women around the world organizing against gender-based violence against women
• create tools to pressure governments to implement commitments to eliminate gender-based violence against women

In support of this civil society initiative, under the leadership of the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, 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.

To read more about the vision of the campaign, click here.