#16DaysChallenge: What are you doing to end violence against women and girls?
25 November 2021. Nearly 1 in 3 women around the world have been subjected to physical or sexual violence at least once in their lifetime. These numbers do not reflect the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic or the full continuum of violence that affects women and girls in their lifetime including sexual harassment, online violence, domestic violence amongst many other forms of violence.
Combating gender-based violence on national and regional levels is to remain the key priority in gender equality strategies and implementations. Fighting to eradicate gender-based violence is fighting for human rights.
The UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE by 2030 to End Violence against Women campaign is marking the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence (25 November to 10 December 2021) under the global theme, “Orange the World: END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN NOW!”.
The Union for the Mediterranean is fully committed to supporting the initiative which calls on governments, civil society, women’s organizations, young people, the private sector, the media to join forces in addressing the global pandemic of violence against women and girls.
The UfM reconfirms its engagement in working to prevent and fight against violence against women and girls (VAWG), according to the priorities set in the Cairo Ministerial Declaration of 2017.
As a matter of fact, VAWG will be one of the main topics discussed in the upcoming Regional Meeting on Women empowerment, planned on 15 December. Moreover, the 2022 UfM Regional Progress Report will report on updated data on gender equality which will consider the consequences of Covid 19 on violence against women.
This year, together with partners in the Arab States region, the UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE by 2030 to End Violence against Women campaign is inviting the audience to participate in #16DaysChallenge to share with the world the actions they are taking to end violence against women and girls.
The campaign is a call to action for everyone to share on social media what they do – or can do – to end violence against women and girls: the aim is to demonstrate we all have a role to play in ending violence.
Between the 25th of November and the 10th of December, post your selfie or video on your favorite social media channel including a brief text explaining how you are taking action to end violence! Make sure to tag @unwomenarabic on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and add the hashtags #16DaysChallenge and #OrangeTheWorld
