Advocacy and campaigns
Each year, the 16 Days of Activism campaign serves as a rallying point for governments, NGOs, CBOs and other stakeholders to organise events aimed at raising awareness, influencing behaviour change and securing high-level political commitment to end gender-based violence. The campaign takes place annually between 25 November and 10 December.
Key dates include:
- 25 November – International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
- 1 December – World AIDS Day
- 3 December – International Day of Persons with Disabilities
- 6 December – Anniversary of the Montreal Massacre
- 10 December – international Human Rights Day
Past campaigns
Since its inception in 2001, Gender Links has played an active role in the 16 Days of Activism campaign through:
- Training of media in covering gender violence and building the capacity of NGOs and CBOs to run strategic campaigns
- Training in the use of new information and communication technologies for gender justice campaigns, including facilitating online chats or cyber dialogues that link women from Southern Africa to experts and decision-makers
- Calling on stakeholders to move beyond promises to actual implementation in order to gain long-overdue results in the struggle to end violence against women
