Today marks the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Campaign, a global movement uniting people, organizations, and governments to prevent and eliminate gender-based violence. Running from November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, to December 10, International Human Rights Day, this campaign amplifies the urgent call to action against GBV worldwide.
This year’s theme for the UNiTE campaign is “Towards Beijing +30: UNiTE to End Violence Against Women and Girls.” As we approach the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 2025, this theme offers a powerful opportunity to reflect on progress while addressing where violence against women and girls continues to persist.
Adopted in 1995 at the Fourth United Nations World Conference on Women, the Beijing Declaration remains a cornerstone for advancing women’s rights. It identifies 12 critical areas of concern, including:
At Share-Net Netherlands, we stand in solidarity with this campaign and as SRHR activists and advocates, we will actively contribute to this international movement to eliminate gender-based violence. Over the next 16 days, we will share facts, resources, and other work that contributes to the fight against GVB. As an SRHR network, we also will be highlighting the impactful work of our members in addressing this intersectional issue.
The topics in our campaign reflect a deliberate effort to spotlight diverse and intersecting dimensions of GVB. This year, we aim to highlight progress made since the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action while also critically addressing today’s most pressing issues.
While some challenges identified in 1995 have seen meaningful action, gaps between policy and practice persist, and new or unresolved issues continue to demand attention. For example, cyber violence—which we will address on Day 3—illustrates how technological advancements have been weaponized against women and girls, creating new threats.
At the same time, persistent social stigmas, including stigma around AIDS, trans and non-binary identities, and victim blaming, perpetuate cycles of harm, violate human rights, and leave many vulnerable communities exposed to violence.
Additionally, in the face of the rise of the far-right movement and the devaluing and defunding of feminist work, it is vital to amplify voices that are frequently marginalized. Anti-immigrant sentiment, racist and Islamophobic ideologies, and the anti-gender movement exacerbate GBV, particularly for marginalized groups such as individuals with disabilities, POC, children, asylum seekers, and trans/non-binary individuals. In a global context, humanitarian crises in conflict zones and asylum systems disproportionately impact women and girls, compounding their vulnerabilities. It is of the utmost importance that these issues also are included in the discourse surrounding GVB.
Our campaign also seeks to broaden the conversation around GBV to include forms of violence beyond physical harm. We include issues of non-physical violence such as everyday violence, stigmatization, mental abuse, and cyber violence. We also chose topics to highlight the harms women face in hyper-vulnerable situations, such as conflict zones, asylum detention centers, and through obstetric violence and human trafficking.
A key message underlying our campaign is the urgent need for continued funding for feminist organizations. Our work is critical to bridging the gap between policy and practice and addressing these intersecting dimensions of GBV. While progress has been made, much work remains, and we cannot give up the fight.
As we approach International Human Rights Day, we aim to connect these themes to larger efforts for equality, justice, and safety for all. Only by addressing these diverse and intersecting dimensions can we ensure meaningful progress in eliminating GBV worldwide.
Join us as we celebrate progress and confront challenges in the fight to eliminate gender-based violence. Follow along and contribute to the conversation by sharing your insights, initiatives, and stories.
Together, we can create lasting change.
