Back to Index

This article participates on the following special index pages:

16 Days of Activism: Unpacking the theme
Southern Africa AIDS Information Dissemination Service (SAfAIDS)
November 27, 2007

Visit the index of articles on 16 Days of Activism

2007 Theme: Demanding Implementation, Challenging Obstacles End violence Against Women

Every year, between 25 November and 10 December, the world commemorates 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence. The theme of this year's campaign is "Demanding Implementation, Challenging Obstacles: End Violence against Women."

Across the world, millions of women experience violence, in their homes, on the streets and in the workplace. Sadly the most common form of violence against women occurs at the hands of an intimate acquaintance or family member. Living in constant fear of violence, limits women ability to fully exercise their human rights. Violence against women and girls perpetuates inequality and weakens women's ability to participate in society. Representing over 50% of the global population, the lack of full participation of women, in turn weakens society as a whole.

Culture, religion and tradition are too often used as excuses and justification for violence against women. Such violence includes sexual harassment, domestic violence, incest, rape, "honor" killings, dowry murders, acid disfigurement and the mutilation of a woman's genitals. While several countries have established policies to eliminate violence against women, they continue to experience challenges in implementing the policies on the ground.

The theme of this year's campaign encourages individuals and organizations to demand the implementation of all policies and practices aimed at ending gender-based violence. According to the Center for Women's Global Leadership, the focus of this year's campaign should be to: - Demand and secure adequate funding for work on Violence against Women - Call for greater accountability and political commitment from states to prevent and punish all forms of violence against women in practice, not just in words; - Increase awareness of the impact of violence against women, including engaging in measures to end it by men and boys; - Evaluate the impact and effectiveness of work to prevent violence against women; - Secure the space for advocacy and defending the defenders of women's human rights in their work to end gender based violence. Throughout the next two weeks (and over the next year), all are encouraged to set up their activism against gender-based violence. We all have the right to live free of fear and violence in social, cultural and economic environment that enable us to participate fully in society.

Sources:

http://www.cwgl.rutgers.edu/16days/home.html
http://www.wunrn.com/news/2007/07_07/07_16_07/072107_16.htm
http://www.globalfundforwomen.org/cms/issues/violence/

Visit the SAfAIDS fact sheet

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP