November 25, 2023

UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls: 16 days of Activism

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that kicks off on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day. 

The campaign was started by activists at the inauguration of the Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991. It is used as an organizing strategy by individuals and organizations around the world to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.

In support of this civil society initiative, the United Nations Secretary-General launched in 2008 the campaign UNITE by 2030 to End Violence against Women, which runs parallel to the 16 Days of Activism. 

Every year, the UNITE Campaign focuses on a specific theme and this year’s is UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls.The campaign calls on citizens to show how much they care about ending violence against women and girls by sharing the actions they are taking to create a world free from violence towards women. This year's campaign also calls on governments worldwide to share how they are investing in gender-based violence prevention. 

Key facts on violence against women and girls

More than 5 women or girls are killed every hour by someone in their family

Nearly 1 in 5 women aged 20-24 were married before turning 18

One in three women have been subjected to violence at least once in their lifetime

See more: Facts and figures: Ending violence against women here

See more: Survey on domestic violence against women in Armenia here