The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence, from 25 November to 10 December 2024, is an annual global campaign to emphasise that violence against women is a critical human rights issue. Nearly one in three women experience violence in their lifetime. In 2023, a woman or girl was killed intentionally by partners or family members every 10 minutes.
The 16 Days of Activism run from International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women to International Human Rights Day. A global social media campaign to speak up against gender-based violence has been launched using the hashtags #NoExcuse and #16Days.
The 2024 campaign #NoExcuse. UNiTE to End Violence against Women raises the urgency of preventing gender-related killings and demands action to protect women and girls everywhere. As the United Nations states, “violence against women and girls remains one of the most prevalent and pervasive human rights violations in the world.”
To mark International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November, UN Women released its Femicides in 2023 report. It found that 85,000 women and girls around the world were killed intentionally in 2023. Of these homicides, 60 per cent were committed by an intimate partner or a family member. The data shows that 140 women and girls die every day at the hands of their partner or a close relative, which means one woman or girl is killed every 10 minutes.
UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) executive director Ghada Waly said the report “highlights the urgent need for strong criminal justice systems that hold perpetrators accountable, while ensuring adequate support for survivors, including access to safe and transparent reporting mechanisms.”
“We must confront and dismantle the gender biases, power imbalances, and harmful norms that perpetuate violence against women,” Waly said. “As this year’s 16 Days of Activism campaign begins, we must act now to protect women’s lives.”
As the world approaches the 30th anniversary of the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a UN initiative to advance gender equity and women’s rights around the world, the UN UNiTE campaign is calling for increased accountability, stronger national strategies, and enhanced support for women’s rights organisations. The 16 Days of Activism is an opportunity to revitalise commitments and demand accountability and action from decision-makers. You can read the UN briefing paper on the 16 Days of Activism here.
If you or someone you know is experiencing family domestic violence, support can be found via:
- 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732), the national domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support service
- 13YARN (13 92 76), a 24/7 crisis support service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- The Men’s Referral Service (1300 766 491), a 24/7 telephone counselling, information and referral service for men using, or at risk of using, violent or controlling behaviour.
If you’re not in immediate danger and you need help or advice, you can also call the police on the non-emergency number 131 444.