16 Days of Activism - 2018
What is it?
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an international campaign that takes place each year. It commences on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10 December, Human Rights Day. It was originated by activists at the inaugural Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991 and continues to be coordinated each year by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership.
Violence against women and girls is a flagrant human rights violation. For the DRCC, the 16 Days of Activism provides us a backdrop against which we can raise awareness of sexual violence while also challenging our society’s tolerance of same.
For far too long silence and stigma have allowed violence against women to escalate to pandemic proportions—one in three women worldwide experience gender-based violence.
The time for change is here and now.
There are two key themes for the 2018 Campaign, and we propose that DRCC touch on both in our communications and our activities.
Theme 1 – The 16 Days of Activism are supported by the UN Secretary General’s campaign UNiTE to End Violence against Women. UNiTE’s campaign theme for 2018 is
Theme 2 – The Center for Women’s Global Leadership (CWGL) at Rutgers University is the global coordinator for 16 Days of Activism. The focus of this year’s campaign is to ‘End gender-based violence in the world of work’.
The DRCC will linked in both themes throughout the 16 Days.
Campaign Activity
The DRCC supports the #lightforsixteen campaign led by Tipperary Rape Crisis Centre.
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence is a time when many organisations working against sexual and domestic violence work to highlight their impact. Some of our 16 Days activities will include:
- Sharing DRCC experience and expertise through a series of social media posts and videos.
- Highlighting 16 Days campaign activity in Ireland and internationally
- DRCC report launched by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, with a special input by Lavinia Kerwick.
- We are supporting ‘Light a Candle for 16‘, a campaign led by the Tipperary Rape Crisis Centre to demonstrate support for survivors of sexual violence and for the 16 Days of Activism internationally.
- DRCC have asked staff for some teachable inputs for our #GBVTeachin tweetable lectures
How you can support the 16 Days Campaign
- Support social media campaign with likes, retweets and your own contributions
- Donate to DRCC or to your local rape crisis centre
- Attend launch photo event on Saturday, 24th November
- Attend report launch on Monday, 26th November
How you can support someone
Supporting a survivor of sexual violence can be daunting. You might be afraid of saying or doing ‘the wrong thing’. The DRCC deliver training on Offering Support in the Aftermath of Rape and Sexual assault, and we have pulled together some tips to share that may help Click Here
