16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence
About
16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that launces on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day.
It is used as an organising strategy by individuals and organisations around the world to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.
Domestic and family violence are too often linked to homelessness. In Victoria, 47 percent of all people seeking homelessness assistance cited family and domestic violence as a reason. In 2020–21, approximately 116,200 people receiving support from specialist homelessness services had experienced family and domestic violence – a huge 50,820 (44 percent) were in Victoria.
16 Days of Activism is an opportunity to raise awareness of key issues relating to gender-based violence, and can go a long way towards the vital change required to prevent instances of gender-based violence and provide the proper support when it is needed.
‘Respect Women: Call It Out (Respect Is)’ statewide campaign from Respect Victoria to showcase messages of respect, support and equality. As part of the 16 Days of Activism, you are encouraged to take three simple steps towards a future where we are all safe, equal and respected:
Think about what respect means to you, and how it shows up in your home, relationships, workplace and community. What needs to change and how can you take action?
Call out sexism and other forms of discrimination when you see or hear them, if it’s safe to do so.
Set the right example when it comes to gender equality. This might look like encouraging your workplace to take action on equality, talking to the kids in your life about gender stereotypes, or starting a conversation in your sports club or community group.
You are encouraged to learn more about the Respect Is campaign, as well as consider how you can get involved in the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based violence, to support the Victorian community to understand what respect means and how to put it into practice in everyday life.
Details
In 2022, Respect Victoria and Safe and Equal are partnering to deliver and support local community engagement with the 16 Days of Activism.
Learn more about the 16 Days of Activism including messaging and toolkit resources at www.safeandequal.org.au/16-days-of-activism