16 days of Activism against Gender Based Violence
UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls
25th Nov- 10th Dec, 2023
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign
that kicks off on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against
Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day. The campaign was started by activists
at the inauguration of the Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991. It continues to be
coordinated each year by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership. It is used as an organizing
strategy by individuals and organizations around the world to call for the prevention and
elimination of violence against women and girls.
In support of this civil society initiative, the United Nations Secretary-General launched in 2008
the campaign UNITE by 2030 to End Violence against Women, which runs parallel to the
16 Days of Activism. Every year, the UNITE Campaign focuses on a specific theme and this year’s
is “UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls”. The campaign calls on
citizens to show how much they care about ending violence against women and girls by sharing
the actions they are taking to create a world free from violence towards women. This year’s
campaign also calls on governments worldwide to share how they are investing in gender-based
violence prevention.
Student Christian Movement of India firmly believes that God created every individual as a
human being in the very image of God (Gen 1:26) to enjoy life in its fullness in relationships
with both God and with each other. SCMI challenges structures and attitude that limits the
quality of life to anyone and strives towards the affirmation of life for those it is denied. It
encourages and motivates young people to appropriate their faith and, to understand and
interrogate social realities around them. It advocates and fosters perspective building and
sensitization on gender issues and concerns among university students at the grassroots. This
ethos strengthens the importance of SCMI being part of 16 days of activism against gender
based violence.
https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/ending-violence-against-women/unite/16-days-of-activism
Thursdays In Black
SCMI need you to help stop violence by dressing in black every Thursday
The campaign is simple but profound. Wear black on Thursdays. Wear a pin to declare you are part of the global movement resisting attitudes and practices that permit rape and violence. Show your respect for women who are resilient in the face of injustice and violence. Encourage others to join you. Often black has been used with negative racial connotations. In this campaign Black is used as a color of resistance and resilience.
Share your Thursdays in Black photos on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, using hashtags #ThursdaysinBlack