Orange the World: End Violence against Women Now!
Published: Nov 30, 2021 Reading time: 3 minutes
International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, observed on 25 November, launched 16 days of activism that will culminate on 10 December (International Human Rights Day). Around the world, public events are being coordinated and iconic buildings and landmarks will be blanketed in orange – a colour selected to “represent a brighter future free of violence against women and girls.”
Since 1991, more than 6 000 organisations from approximately 187 countries have participated in the campaign. Every year, the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign either introduces a new theme or continues an old theme. The theme focuses on one area of gender inequality and works to bring attention to these issues and make changes that will have an impact. This year the theme is Orange the World: End Violence against Women Now!
According to UN Women,
- 1 in 3 women and girls – some 735 million women – experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, most frequently by an intimate partner.
- 137 women are killed by a member of their family every day.
- Fever than 40% of the women who experience violence seek help of any sort.
- Globally, violence against women disproportionately affects low- and lower-middle-income countries and regions.
Violence against women is one of the most pervasive human rights violations in the world, rooted in gender inequality, discrimination, and harmful cultural and social norms.
The Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, research shows that all types of violence against women and girls, particularly domestic violence, has intensified. During the pandemic, intimate partner violence reports have risen worldwide, with helpline calls increasing five-fold in some countries.
• Sexual harassment and other forms of violence against women continue to occur on streets, in public spaces, and online.
• Survivors have limited information and awareness about available services and limited access to support services.
• In some countries, resources and efforts have been diverted from violence against women responses to immediate COVID-19 relief.
People in Need joins the campaign
People in Need is joining the 16 Days of Activism campaign; here are some of the ways:
Helping women in Angola believe that they can
Since 2013, People in Need in Angola has been assisting local women’s groups and non-governmental organisations in the fight against poverty, and domestic violence against women and children. We have focused on improving the quality of advisory services for victims and on awareness-raising campaigns.
PIN Mongolia encourages men to wear white ribbons
On White Ribbon Day in Mongolia, men and boys are encouraged to wear white ribbons as a symbol of their opposition to violence against women. During the #16days campaign our team in Ulaanbaatar will renew our call for male participation in ending gender-based violence.
PIN Georgia joins #16days of activism
People in Need Georgia is proud to join the 16 Day campaign and declare its solidarity with all female victims of violence.
PIN Nepal empowers women through education
One proven way to reduce violence against women is to increase educational opportunities for women and girls, which leads to greater financial self-sufficiency. People in Need Nepal has supported this development approach for years:
PIN Cambodia joins #OrangeTheWorld campaign
Violence against women manifests in physical, sexual, and psychological forms, including:
• intimate partner violence (battering, psychological abuse, marital rape, femicide)
• sexual violence and harassment (rape, forced sexual acts, unwanted sexual advances, child sexual abuse, forced marriage, street harassment, stalking, cyber-harassment)
• human trafficking (slavery, sexual exploitation)
• female genital mutilation
• child marriage
Call to Action!
Spread the word to end violence against women and get people involved in 16 Days of Activism. Use hashtags like #16days, #16daysofactivism, #GenerationEquality, #SpotlightEndViolence, #DomesticAbuse, #EndGVB, #StopChildMarrige, #OrangeTheWorld, and #WithHer to show your support online. Support organisations that fight for equality. And if you see a woman or girl in your neighbourhood who is a victim of violence, help her to seek help.
