16 days of gender activism: What it entails

WOMEN are the face of development. When they are educated, healthy and participate effectively in key development activities, there is an undeniable ripple effect on the well-being of communities and nations at large. Yet, gender-based violence takes away their ability to fully exercise their basic human rights and consequently diminishes the potential of communities and countries to progress socially, economically and even politically.

In Zimbabwe, about one in three women aged 15 to 49 has experienced physical violence, and about one in four women has experienced sexual violence at some stage in their lives.

Each year from November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women to December 10; Human Rights Day, the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign is a time to galvanise action to end violence against women and girls around the world.

The international campaign originated from the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute co-ordinated by the Centre for Women’s Global Leadership in 1991 at Rutgers University, United States.

The campaign aims to raise an awareness of the negative impact that violence and abuse have on women and children, and to rid society of abuse permanently.

Abuse constitutes any behaviour that causes fear, bodily harm and causing a person to do things against their will.

Forms of abuse include child and rape, emotional and physical abuses as well as sexual harassment.

Up to 70% of women experience physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner at some point in their life.

Every year, the 16 Days of Activism Against GenderBased Violence campaign either introduces a new theme, or continues an old one.

As in previous years, the colour orange is a key theme unifying all activities, with buildings and landmarks lit and decorated in orange to bring global attention to the initiative.

Key dates to observe during 16 Days of Activism include: November 25: International Day of No Violence Against Women, November 29: International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, December 1: World Aids Day, December 3: International Day for the Disabled and December 10: International Human Rights Day.

Do not look away when you see someone being abused, but speak out.