16 Days Of Activism.....

16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children Campaign

The 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children is a United Nations campaign. It takes place annually from the 25th November (International Day of No Violence against Women) to the 10th December (International Human Rights Day). Since 1999 the South African Government has run a parallel campaign that includes issues relating to violence against children. This campaign focuses primarily on generating an increased awareness of the negative impact of violence on women and children as well as society as a whole.

About the 16 Days Campaign

In the past campaigns, funds have been raised for distribution to organisations providing services to women and children who have experienced violence - making the campaign a tool for strengthening helping institutions. Funds are distributed through the Foundation for Human Rights.

Thousands of activists globally commemorated the 14th annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence campaign last year. The 2004 16 Days International Calendar of Activities bears testimony to the depth and breadth of their work underscoring violence against women as a pervasive human rights violation, a public health crisis, and an obstacle to equality, development, security, and peace.

In 2005, the movement to end violence against women has seen further victories. At Beijing +10 in March, the Beijing Platform for Action was unequivocally reaffirmed and United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan emphasized the critical importance of combating violence against girls and women to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.