16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence - November 25

IWDA Resources

16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM AGAINST GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE, November 25 – December 10

Discover the critical movement fighting violence against women and learn how you can actively advocate for women's rights. Our guide offers you in-depth information on the right to live free from violence, abuse, fear, femicide, and domestic abuse.

Connect with valuable resources, initiatives, and organisations – for gender equality, improved legal protections, and hopes of a safer future for everyone.

Please share this powerful resource on Twitter, Bluesky, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn

Jump straight to our resources on ➡️ 16 Days of Activism

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General Information

Starting on the same day as International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and ending on Human Rights Day, the 16 Days of Activism campaign is a rallying call to end violence against women and girls once and for all.

Established in 1991 by the first Women's Global Leadership Institute, this global campaign has seen participation from more than 6,000 organisations in 187 countries and counting.

In a world where 1 in 3 women have been subjected to physical and/or sexual violence, we demand a future where every woman and girl can live free from violence and fear.

Explore our comprehensive guides on the One Billion Rising movement, women as victims of war, the trafficking of women and girls, and toxic masculinity.

Too often, gender-based violence is accepted as normal behaviour. Harmful societal norms, cultural traditions, and patriarchal family structures have created a global culture of discrimination against women. These types of behaviours allow perpetrators to act with impunity and create a culture of silence amongst women.

These 16 days of activism are our chance to speak out against violations and abuses of women's rights. They raise public awareness of the need for greater funding, improved support networks for survivors, and the urgency of ending discriminatory practices.

By organising and joining marches, vigils, and webinars, and by sharing resources such as this one, we form a strong network that can, together, lobby governments to improve laws and services, increase funding for essential women's services, and educate about the harm of discriminatory attitudes. This is a global problem which needs global solutions.

Flickr | UNAMID

Violence Against Women – An Epidemic

• More than 370 million women and girls have experienced rape or sexual assault before the age of 18. When non-physical forms of sexual violence, such as online or verbal abuse, are included, the number almost doubles.

• Out of all female homicides 60% are committed by intimate partners or family members.

• Less than 40% of women who fall victim to violence seek help of any kind.

• In 2022, only 14% of all women and girls lived in countries with robust legal protections that guarantee their fundamental human rights.

• More than 60% of countries still lack rape laws based on the principle of consent.

• Women with disabilities report a higher rate of all forms of intimate partner violence than women without.

• Ninety-one per cent of trafficking victims for sexual exploitation are females.

• In Egypt, an estimated 500,00 working days are lost each year due to marital violence.

• Across the EU, the cost of gender-based violence was estimated at EUR € 289 billion a year.

UN WOMEN Pacific | CC BY-SA 2.0

#NoExcuse For Online Abuse – 2025 Theme

In today's digital world, the internet can be both a platform for empowerment and a tool for abuse and exploitation. Stalking and death threats in the digital space can quickly manifest into real-life situations. Hate speech, harassment, and digital violence can spread in seconds. Deep fakes, of which 90% are sexual images of women, can shame and ridicule.

The effects of online abuse do not stay online; they are harmful in real life and must be addressed in the same way.

By creating safer digital spaces, raising awareness, and promoting digital literacy, we can prevent the spread of abuse, disinformation and hate. Tech companies must step up to remove harmful content, implement stricter regulations, and take reports of abuse seriously.

Women's rights organisations must be adequately funded to allow them to provide the resources and support survivors need. Perpetrators must be held accountable with laws which protect women and their right to live free from fear and discrimination.

We must challenge toxic online cultures. Technology should be embraced as a tool for positive change, advocacy, activism, empowerment, connection, and education rather than a weapon for harm.

Through educational events, social media campaigns, and community outreach, we can dismantle the cultural and societal norms that perpetuate gender violence, urging everyone to take a stand for a more just and equitable world in these 16 days of activism, and every day.

"Violence against women is not inevitable; it is preventable. Tell your families, schools, communities and workplaces. Together, our message will be amplified, and our voices heard" - International Women's Development Agency (IWDA).

Author: Rachael Mellor, 19.11.25, latest update 07.09.26, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0