The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an international campaign whose aim is to tame violence against females; women and girls.
The campaign runs annually from November 25, which is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to December 10, Human Rights Day.
The campaign was originally called ’16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence’ and was established in 1991.
From the time it was initiated, at least 6,000 organisations from approximately 187 countries have participated in the campaign.
In Africa, countries like Kenya, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania and Uganda took part in the campaign.
Each year, the GBV campaign has a new theme or follows through with the previous one.
The themes centre on a particular area of gender inequality and work through to bring to light GBV issues and make changes that have an impact.
This year's 16 Days of Activism against GBV campaign is "Towards Beijing +30: UNiTE to End Violence Against Women and Girls".
This theme according to the United Nations Secretary-General’s Campaign to End Violence Against Women aligns with the world’s commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, including the eradication of violence against women and girls (VAWG) and the upcoming 30th year of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
“The UNiTE campaign calls on all duty bearers, especially States and private sector companies, to take action around the EVAW priorities of the review of the 30 years of implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and Political Declaration: recommitment, accountability, resourcing,” UN Women says, according to a statement on its website.
“This includes implementing comprehensive strategies in partnership with women’s rights organisations, allocating necessary budgets, and actively reporting on progress to end impunity and prevent violence against women and girls, with a particular urgency regarding its most extreme manifestation, femicide.”
The campaign calls on citizens to show how much they care about ending violence against women and girls by sharing the actions they are taking to create a world free from violence towards women.
This year's campaign also calls on governments worldwide to share how they are investing in gender-based violence prevention.
“For many in our country, the set days of activism against GBV simultaneously confronts the harsh reality of a rallying cry for justice, equality and the eradication of violence against all genders,” UN Women added.
“Kenya will equally be celebrating 60 years of independence this year. Indeed it is a poignant reminder of the passing of time, yet our country is still grappling with the harsh reality of gender-based violence.”
Kenya National Human Rights Commission (KNHCR) said amidst the ongoing campaign, Gender-Based Violence remains a persistent issue in Kenya, with its impact felt acutely especially in the urban informal settlements where vulnerable populations continue to face numerous challenges.
“The clarion call to action is to the authorities, duty bearers, State and non-State actors to shed light on the harsh realities faced by many women and girls in these marginalised communities and elsewhere,” UN Women notes.
“This includes measures to streamline the legal process, provide support services and hold perpetrators accountable for their actions.”
KNHRC said behind closed doors, countless survivors endure in silence, their voices muffled by societal norms and systemic barriers.
“The call for redress echoes demanding accountability for the perpetrators and justice for the survivors. Human rights groups, united under the banner of the 16 days of activism, implore society to break the silence and challenge the structures perpetuating this violence,” KNHCR said.
“Only through collective acknowledgement and concerted efforts can Kenya dismantle the walls that shield GBV, ensuring that no voice remains unheard, and no injustice goes unaddressed.”
According to WHO: 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is a key international moment to call for an end to violence against women and girls (VAWG).
“ Violence against women happens in every country and culture, causing harm to millions of women and girls. Risks and challenges to access care increase even more for women and girls living in humanitarian emergencies," WHO said.
WHO adds that prolonged and intense conflicts have resulted in a continuous rise in all forms of gender-based violence.
“We are calling for all parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law to protect women and girls from gender-based violence and ensure access to essential health services," WHO adds.
UN Refugee Agency said the 16-day campaign is an organising strategy for individuals and groups around the world to call for the elimination of all forms of gender-based violence against women.
It also seeks to raise awareness about gender-based violence against women as a human rights issue at the local, national, regional and international levels and strengthen local work around gender-based violence against women
The organisation calls for efforts to establish a clear link between local and international work to end gender-based violence against women and provide a forum in which organisers can develop and share new and effective strategies
It also seeks to demonstrate the solidarity of women around the world in fighting gender-based violence against women and create tools to pressure governments to implement commitments to eliminate gender-based violence against women
“In the Americas, the 16 Days of Activism campaign aims to raise awareness on SGBV as a widespread social, health and economic issue in all corners of the world rooted in gender inequality and unequal power relations," the UN Refugee Agency said.
Monday, November 25, marked the first day of the 16 days of activism campaign.
The day was marked by a media roundtable on enhancing dialogue on the role of media in ethically reporting gross reforms of Gender Based Violence (GBV).
It was organised by Journalists for Human Rights (JHR) and the Centre for Reproductive Rights.
“Globally countries mark this 16 day with different activities that speak against GBV or promote activism or for different policies to be enacted to promote women’s rights and especially an end to GBV,” Winnie Syombua, a member of JHR Kenya, said.
“In Kenya, JHR is doing media campaigns, roundtables, joining the matches and collaborating with civil societies to make sure they are able to articulate their goals towards ending GBV."
The roundtable brought together media professionals, families of femicide victims, survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), civil society organisations (CSOs) and representatives from government agencies to foster constructive dialogue on the reporting of femicide and broader issues related to GBV.
