The Upcoming Campaign: From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World

16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence is an international campaign originating from the first Women's Global Leadership Institute coordinated by the Center for Women's Global Leadership in 1991. Participants chose the dates November 25th - International Day Against Violence Against Women - and December 10th - International Human Rights Day - in order to emphasize that violence against women must be categorically regarded as a human rights violation.

Since the campaign's inception in 1991, 16 Days has been used as an organizing strategy by individuals and groups globally, with over 4,100 organizations in approximately 172 countries participating. While the activities orchestrated by each organization to call for the elimination of violence against women have varied widely, all efforts have reflected the mission of the campaign to:

  • raise awareness about gender-based violence as a human rights issue at the local, national, regional and international levels

  • strengthen local work around violence against women

  • establish a clear link between local and international work to end 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 violence against women

  • create tools to pressure governments to implement promises made to eliminate violence against women

WILPF and the 16 Days Campaign

The 2012 16 Days Campaign theme will continue with its 2011 theme, From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World: Let's Challenge Militarism and End Violence Against Women! This will mark the third year that 16 Days seeks to address the intersection between gender-based violence and the global military machine. Once again, WILPF sections around the world will participate to protest the impacts of militarism. Previous activism efforts have included training sessions, film screenings, demonstrations and conferences, and WILPF looks forward to supporting 16 Days this year with an equally diverse schedule of events.

Check out WILFP's flyer for the 2012 campaign and visit the Center for Women's Global Leadership website to download the full Take Action Kit.