By Mary Adams (AWC The Hague, Human Rights co-chair) and Marelie Manders (Heidelberg IWC, Human Rights co-chair)
What is the 16 Days of Activism Campaign?
It’s a 16-day international campaign aimed at challenging violence against women and girls. During the 16 Days of Activism, people around the world unite to raise awareness about eliminating gender-based violence, challenge discriminatory attitudes and call for improved laws and services to end violence against women for good. If you’d like to know more about the 16 Days Campaign, read here for more information.
The 16 days of Activism begin on November 25, which is also the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The campaign ends on December 10, International Human Rights Day.
What can you do?
Here is a calendar of simple yet effective ways that you can show your support for the 16 Days of Activism. Scroll down to read more about each date.
2025 Calendar: November 25 to December 10, 2025
(See below for details on each individual day.)
November 25 – Orange the World and Listen and Be Moved
From November 25 to December 10 every year, the UNiTE to End Violence against Women Campaign calls on people everywhere to wear the color orange and take action to end violence against women and girls in communities, at home, in public spaces, in schools and workplaces, during conflict and in times of peace. The color orange was chosen by the United Nations to symbolize a brighter future, free of violence. Use the resources at the UN Women toolkit for Orange the World with social media resources here.
As we kick off the 16 Days Campaign, take a listen to the beautiful anthem for UN Women, “One Woman,” created by FAWCO member Beth Blatt (AAWE Paris). 25 singers and musicians from around the world collaborated to produce this musical sensation. Listen and be moved.
November 26 – Help has no borders: Share the NoMore.org Global Directory
Share the NO MORE Global Directory, a first-of-its-kind, comprehensive directory of domestic violence and sexual assault resources in every UN-recognized country and territory in the world.
Watch a video of Melissa Morbeck of the NoMore Foundation discussing the importance of this directory at the FAWCO Human Rights in Focus conference.
November 27 – Learn more: Host a book club or movie night
Choose a book about gender and gender equality and host a book club. On page 44 of the Safe and Equal 16 Days ToolkitSafe and Equal 16 Days Toolkit, you can find a list of book suggestions or access the New York Public Library’s suggested reading list.
Why not have a film night and watch a film relating to gender-based violence? Suggestions are here.
November 28 – Share information: Climate crisis impacts gender equality
The climate crisis is a “threat multiplier” that is driving a surge in violence against women and girls by intensifying the social and economic stresses linked to gender inequality. Women environmental human rights defenders, especially those from Indigenous communities, face a particular risk of targeted violence, including harassment, physical attacks and femicide, as they advocate for land rights and protection of natural resources.
Read the study highlighted in the UN Spotlight brief "Colliding Crises: How the climate crisis fuels gender-based violence,” which found a 28% increase in femicide during heatwaves.
Climate Change is a serious aggravator for violence against women and girls. Why not read more about it and share this infographic with your clubs?
November 29 – Think sustainable: Embed gender equality in education
The Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Roadmap supports gender equality by ensuring that education systems promote equal access, participation and empowerment for all learners, regardless of gender. It encourages gender-responsive policies, curricula and teaching practices that challenge stereotypes and highlight the vital role of women and girls in achieving sustainability. Through inclusive learning environments, educator training, and data-driven policymaking, the roadmap helps remove barriers to education and enables women and girls to gain the skills, confidence, and leadership needed to contribute meaningfully to sustainable development.
Check out UNESCO’s ESD Toolbox that outlines five priority action areas.
November 30 – Protect health: Healing begins with action
Gender-based violence is a serious public health issue that affects the physical, mental and emotional well-being of survivors. It can lead to injuries, chronic health problems, depression, anxiety and other long-term effects that impact overall quality of life. Addressing GBV through health services ensures survivors receive compassionate care, support and access to essential resources. Promoting safety, equality and awareness within the health sector is key to preventing violence and fostering healthier communities for all.
Read more about the health impact of violence against women in UNFPA’s National Guideline on providing care and prevention for health care providers.
December 1 – Do more: Recognize the signs of unhealthy vs. healthy relationships
One Love Foundation promotes recognizing the signs of unhealthy versus healthy relationships and shifting to healthy behaviors. Help people around you understand that it is important to not ignore these signs, as they can escalate to abuse. FAWCO sponsored a One Love workshop led by youth at the United Nations CSW68 in March 2024.
Learn to spot the signs of abuse and how to start a conversation on page 46 of the Safe and Equal Toolkit.
December 2 – Take action: Support survivors
The National Domestic Violence Hotline has an activist page. You can write to US representatives to express your views and support survivors. Or get ideas to implement in your country of residence – ideas can cross borders.
FIERCE Project provides national hotlines, helplines, support centers and shelters for victims of GBV in Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, and Turkey.
December 3 – Talk About it: Engage with men and boys
The Our Watch Institute Men in focus practice guide is designed to address masculinity and violence against women. This collection of 14 videos, three infographics and eight practitioner support guides can help foster safe and effective practices to support ending violence against women.
December 4 – Get Technical: End digital violence against women and girls
The UNiTE Campaign’s 2025 theme is to end digital violence against women and girls and focuses on promoting safe, inclusive and equitable digital spaces free from harassment, abuse and discrimination. It calls for stronger laws, policies and digital literacy to protect women and girls online, while also urging governments, tech companies and communities to take collective action against online gender-based violence. The campaign emphasizes empowerment through awareness, advocacy, and education, ensuring that women and girls can fully and safely participate in the digital world.
Sign up TODAY for FAWCO’s LIVE update: CSW69 Reboot: Combatting Image-Based Sexual Abuse, Real or AI Generated. Following its powerful debut at the United Nations during the 69th Commission on the Status of Women, FAWCO returns with a renewed panel on image-based sexual abuse (IBSA) — the unauthorized spread of intimate and deepfake images that disproportionately target women in public life.
- Take action with the UNiTE campaign
- Watch the FAWCO UN Team’s recorded panel discussion AI and Image-Based Sexual Violence Online presented at CSW69 in March 2025.
December 5 – Learn more: Digital safety for women online
Watch the video from FAWCO members Jessica Buchleitner & Sallie Chaballier describing the results of their research on Women and the Media for the NGO CSE Geneva +30 Beijing Project.
The digital dimension of gender-based violence has a serious impact on the lives of women and girls, including their safety, their physical and psychological health, livelihoods, family ties, dignity and reputation. For a youth perspective, watch this.
In addition, this WomenTech Network post provides strategies to help women combat online harassment, including guidance on using privacy settings, documenting incidents, building support networks, and understanding legal protections. The post also emphasizes the importance of digital literacy, anonymous reporting tools, and mental health support as ways to create safer online spaces.
December 6 – Do more: Use advocacy toolkits
There are powerful resources available on-line to make it easier for you to find your voice using pre-defined and pre-developed tools.
- “Plan your Power” toolkit for women’s rights advocacy planning
- Safe and Equal 16 Days toolkit
- Create change by downloading the Global Citizen app. It contains a series of challenges with some women’s rights activists so that each day you’ll have a simple task like signing a petition, watching a video, listening to a podcast and more.
December 7 – Speak more: Talk about consent
Asking for and obtaining consent shows respect for yourself and your partner. It eliminates the entitlement that one partner might feel over the other. Neither your body nor your sexuality belongs to someone else.
Check out the resources from the Eau Claire Health Alliance that explain and show what consent can look and sound like.
December 8 – Test your knowledge: GBV quiz for clubs
Put your knowledge to the test and help raise awareness about gender-based violence! Join us in taking this short FAWCO quiz to learn more about the causes, impacts and ways to prevent violence against women and girls. It’s a chance to challenge misconceptions, reflect on real issues and strengthen your understanding of how we can all contribute to a safer, more equal world. Together, awareness leads to action.
December 9 – Review, Reflect, Retain
In November 2021, the FAWCO Human Rights Team hosted a 3-day Human Rights in Focus virtual event. The event had 20 sessions designed to raise awareness on global human rights issues, highlight the impact of FAWCO and FAWCO Foundation programs, provide opportunities for networking, bring our audience face to face with speakers from organizations such as Human Rights Watch, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the CNN Freedom Project and others, and inspire participants to take action – no matter how big or small.
- American Victims of Gender-Based Violence
- Targeting Demand in Human Trafficking (OSCE)
- Significance of Strangulation in GBV
- Realities of Child Marriage in the US
- Advocacy: How to Create Change for Women & Girls
December 10 – Remember through care: The Living Stones Project
We are proud to launch FAWCO The Living Stones project to clean Stolpersteine — the memorial stones that honor victims of the Holocaust. This initiative brings clubs and their communities together to preserve these powerful symbols of remembrance and respect. By cleaning stones, we keep the memories of those who suffered alive and ensure that their stories continue to shine brightly for future generations. Join us in this act of remembrance and solidarity across borders. Access the Stolpersteine Cleaning Guide by Jennifer Sturgeon, AWC The Hague and watch the video.
