(C) U.S. State Dept This story was originally published by U.S. State Dept and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Commemorating the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence [1] ['Eleanor Greenbaum', 'Virtual Student Federal Service Intern'] Date: 2022-12 The U.S. Department of State Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues is proud to once again join the annual international campaign for 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), taking place from November 25 through December 10, 2022. During these 16 Days of Activism, the Department will also release of the updated U.S. Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence Globally. This civil society-led campaign was started by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership in 1991 with the goal of embedding women’s rights within the international human rights framework utilizing intersectional advocacy. Every year, civil society organizations, activists, governments, and other institutions bring attention to this issue and call for collective action to end gender-based violence. The 16 Days campaign begins November 25, to mark the December 1999 United Nations resolution proclaiming the date “International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women” and ends December 10, to mark International Human Rights Day. This year, the campaign’s theme designated by UN Women is: “UNiTE! Activism to end violence against women and girls.” Principles of the theme include honoring and acknowledging women’s movements, leaving no one behind, using a survivor-centered approach that is multi-sectoral and transformative, elevating the voices of young feminists, and using the color orange as a source of unity across campaign messaging. The theme focuses on strides that have been made in global awareness of gender-based violence (GBV), particularly since the global #MeToo movement. However, many challenges still remain. The Covid-19 pandemic resulted in a massive global setback in prevention efforts for GBV and restricted access to lifesaving response services. Further, GBV remains the world’s most widespread human rights abuse, and those who wish to defend women, girls, and LGBTQI+ persons have faced increased repression despite governments’ formal commitments to prevent GBV and end its impunity. Although the international community has provided financial support and commitments, this campaign seeks to promote activism against GBV and advocate for further investment and international action. As a part of the campaign, both the United Nations and the U.S. Department of State are encouraging everyone to become an activist in preventing gender-based violence. This can be done by simply sharing information on social media, organizing or attending events, and other activities that elevate the voices of those most impacted by GBV. Preventing and responding to gender-based violence is a cornerstone of the Department of State’s commitment to promoting democracy, advancing human rights, and furthering gender equity and equality. Gender-based violence is a human rights issue and should be treated as such. Preventing and responding to GBV is core to any humanitarian response, and must be considered in responses to conflicts and crises including the Covid-19 pandemic and climate change. Gender-based violence finds significant overlap with many U.S. foreign policy priorities, including the promotion of democracy, human rights, gender equity, economic security, and global health. The Department is proud to support programs aimed at enhancing survivor-centered efforts to prevent and respond to GBV such as SHE’s GREAT! The SHEs GREAT! program in Benin, Kyrgyzstan, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Jordan, Georgia, St. Lucia, Ukraine, and Guatemala is designed to help youth address GBV issues including harmful practices like child marriage and bride kidnapping. Throughout the program, Gender and My Community (GMC) club participants learn about the meaning of GBV and its different forms. Participants are equipped with human-centered design skills, critical thinking, and resources to help them combat GBV practices in their communities. One participant Elene, from Tbilisi, Georgia said, “We have learned how to help various people, how to find solutions. The main thing here is the cause of a problem – the root of the problem which we should address. I already know how to assist a victim of violence, and also can view the situation from her perspective, to empathize with her. More importantly, I know how to avoid becoming a victim and whom to report if someone decides to harass me.” And in Ghana, S/GWI’s Women and Girls Empowered (WAGE) – Women Entrepreneurs in Northern Ghana Gain Access to Integrated Services via Agent Networks (WE GAIN) program is not only helping women entrepreneurs learn how to launch and sustain a mobile money business, but also to learn how to share information with women clients on accessing GBV services. Ninety women are being trained through the WE GAIN program to provide digital financial services and GBV services to clients in their communities. Faustina, a WAGE participant, reported, “Based on these training received, I will do well to grow the business and use proceeds to grow the business, my family and the community. My community will not only benefit from my Digital Financial Service(DFS)+ business but I will embark on gender-based violence education to draw attention to several abuses like child abuse, women abuse and emotional abuse.’’ The December release of the U.S. Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence Globally will display the United States’ commitment to this work both globally and at home. Gender-based violence is prevalent everywhere, including in the United States, so our international and domestic efforts must advance in tandem and learn from each other. The U.S. Department of State Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues stands with the work of the United Nations, survivors, and women and girls in all their diversity to address all forms of GBV, and encourages everyone to get involved to the extent they can in becoming an advocate against this human rights abuse. About the Author: Eleanor Greenbaum serves as a Virtual Student Federal Service Intern for the Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues. [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.state.gov/dipnote-u-s-department-of-state-official-blog/commemorating-the-16-days-of-activism-against-gender-based-violence/ Published and (C) by U.S. State Dept Content appears here under this condition or license: Public Domain. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/usstate/