By Abdullkareem Haruna

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, launched in 1991, is a crucial annual international campaign that commences on November 25th, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

It continues until December 10th, Human Rights Day, aligning the fight against gender-based violence directly with broader human rights issues.

Initiated by activists during the inauguration of the Women’s Global Leadership Institute, the campaign has since become a global rallying cry. It serves as an organizing strategy for individuals, communities, and organizations across the world, fostering a call to action for the prevention and ultimate elimination of violence against women and girls.

In 2008, the United Nations Secretary-General further bolstered this civil society effort by launching the UNITE by 2030 to End Violence against Women campaign, which runs concurrently with the 16 Days of Activism.

Each year, the UNITE Campaign centres its efforts on a specific theme. This year’s theme, “UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls”, asks citizens to demonstrate their commitment to ending violence against women and girls. It encourages individuals to share the actions they are taking to build a world free from violence towards women, thereby increasing public awareness and engagement.

In a novel move, this year’s campaign is not only directed at individuals but also at governments worldwide. It urges them to share their strategies and actions towards investing in the prevention of gender-based violence. This dual-pronged approach aims to foster transparency, accountability, and shared responsibility.

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is more than just a campaign – it is a global commitment to creating safer, equitable societies. As the campaign unfolds over the next two weeks, it’s a reminder that the fight to end violence against women and girls is ongoing, requiring collective and persistent efforts at all levels of society.