16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence is an international campaign that was started by the Center for Women's Global Leadership (CWGL) in 1991. The 16 Days runs from November 25, International Day against Violence against Women  - to December 10, International Human Rights Day to symbolically link violence against women and human rights and to emphasise that such violence is a violation of human rights.

This 16-day period also highlights other significant dates including December 1, which is World AIDS Day, and December 6, which marks the Anniversary of the Montreal Massacre in 1989, when 14 women students were massacred by a lone gun-man opposed to the affirmative action policies promoted by feminists at the University of Montreal.

Since it began, the 16 Days of Activism has been used as an organising strategy by women's groups to call for the elimination of violence against women in different ways such as public rallies, meetings, collective activities - all demonstrating solidarity on this issue.

For this year, 2009, the focus of 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence Campaign will be to honouring groups and individuals who have committed to bringing VAW to the forefront of global attention, to encouraging everyone in their various capacities to take action to end VAW, and to demanding accountability for all of the promises made to eliminate VAW.

Oxfam India partners working on violence against women are currently preparing for a range of activities (including press conferences, rallies and public meetings) during this period focusing on the demand for effective implementation of the Domestic Violence law and drawing attention to the lack of support services for women facing violence.

In the We Can campaign, alliance members will be reaching out to Change Makers and the community across thirteen states through district level mobile van yatras which involves use of innovative audio video communication material.