16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence
Image description: Text "16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence' on background of purple galaxy.
“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.”
Image description: Text 'Abuse isn't always physical. Women can't do anything. She's just a girl. You're not even pretty. You can't wear that. Don't be such a woman. You need to lose some weight or you'll never find anybody. You're useless.' on an an orange background with a black outline of a woman with a broken heart illustration.
Why we need 16 Days?
We need to commit to ending gender-based violence because:
Sexism, patriarchy, colonialism, ableism, and lots of other forms of oppression still exist. These oppressions create a culture where violence against marginalized genders is OK and even expected.
Most folks still think violence against women is only hitting and kicking, when most survivors say that the emotional abuse is the hardest to recover from.
58% of grade 7-12’s experience sexual harassment at school.
Approximately every six days, a woman in Canada is killed by her intimate partner. Out of the 83 police-reported intimate partner homicides in 2014, 67 of the victims—over 80%—were women.
Ending violence would be good for our entire community, but if you need more economic incentive: Canadians collectively spend $7.4 billion to deal with the aftermath of spousal violence alone, according to the Department of Justice.
Survivors most often know, love, and trust the person who is abusing them.
Approximately 460,000 sexual assaults occur in Canada each year, and less than 10% are reported to police.
70 to 99% of women experience street harassment at some point during their lives.
Video description: Text ‘Don’t Get Raped’ and the letters are wiped out to read ‘don’t rape’.
What can you do?
Ending gender-based violence can feel overwhelming. Don’t freak out, there’s a strong community of feminists and anti-violence activists working to create a culture based on consent and equity.
There’s lots of everyday actions you can take to get involved!
Commit to learning move about gender-based violence. Learn how to recognize the foundations that keep violent systems in place.
Unlearn the myths and lies that we’ve been taught about sexual violence and partner violence.
Be ready to support a friend if they need help.
Follow DWS (plus other amazing activists and organizations) on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for daily info about consent and so much more.
Interrupt sexist, racists, homophobic, and other harmful jokes and comments.
Come to one of the many 16 Days of Activism events planned by Dawson orgs.
Prepare! Have convos with your friends about what you would do if a friend was being harmed.
We’ve got your back! Call DWS’ 24 Hour Support Line either when you need support or when you have questions about GBV or about helping a friend.
Don’t keep it to yourself! Tell others about 16 Days of Activism, your commitment to ending gender-based violence, and all the incredible events happening.
Check out the entire schedule of 16 Days of Activism events here:
Keep in touch with DWS… Follow our blog.