The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is a global movement dedicated to raising awareness and fostering action to end gender-based violence (GBV). Held annually from November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, to December 10, Human Rights Day, the campaign highlights the systemic nature of GBV and calls for accountability at all levels.
Established in 1991, it encourages governments, organizations, and individuals worldwide to unite in combating the pervasive violence faced by women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals.
Throughout 2024, we have noticed increasing violence globally targeting women, girls, and LBTIQ+ people. The ongoing violence in Gaza has killed more women and children than any other single recent conflict, highlighting the urgent need for global solidarity and action.
GBV statistics are sobering: every 10 minutes, a woman is killed. Globally, one in three women experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. In 2022, nearly 89,000 women and girls were intentionally killed —over half by intimate partners or family members. Marginalized groups, including disabled women, LBTIQ+ individuals, and women in conflict zones, face multiple forms of discrimination. These numbers are not just statistics—they are a call to action to end a human rights crisis that continues to devastate millions of lives.
This year, Hivos will be sharing insights into the work we are doing around the world to combat gendered violence and discrimination and the ways we can unite and speak up against it. By catalysing grassroots initiatives and amplifying their stories, Hivos emphasizes the power of both taking collective action and supporting frontrunners.
