To mark the start of the 16 days of activism against gender based violence, we took part in the Silent March in Canterbury organised by SI Canterbury on Saturday 25th November, where we were joined by our Regional President Alison, and members from a variety of clubs across the South East region as well as members of the public.
Our own club member Yvonne Freeman who is the Regional Programme Action officer carried out the following research in to the 16 days of activism against gender based violence which you can read below
16 Days of Activism 2023
Saturday, 25 November 2023 will mark the first day of this year’s 16 Days of Activism against violence against women and girls. Soroptimists throughout the world will be taking part in a range of activities and events to raise awareness of gender-based violence, challenge attitudes of discrimination and call for improved laws and services to end violence against women and girls.
What is the history leading up to the 16 Days of Activism?
Patricia, Minerva and Maria Teresa Mirabal were three political sisters who actively opposed the cruelty and violence of the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo in the Dominican Republic. As a result of their feminist resistance, on 25 November 1960, Trujillo ordered his secret police to murder the three sisters and dump them at the bottom of a cliff along with their driver. The sisters became symbols of the feminist resistance and to commemorate their deaths, 25 November was declared International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in Latin America in 1980. The day was subsequently formally recognised by the United Nations in 1999.
In June 1991, the Centre for Women’s Global Leadership (CWGL), alongside participants of the first Women’s Global Institute on Women, Violence and Human Rights, called for a global campaign of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
The UNiTE to End Violence against Women initiative was launched in 2008 under the leadership of UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon. This initiative is a multi-year effort to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls around the world. It was created to support the civil society campaign ‘16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence’ around the world. UNiTE, which is managed by UN Women, calls on governments, civil society, women’s organisations, young people, the private sector, media, and the UN system to join forces to address the global pandemic of violence against women and girls.
25 November has been designated as the Orange Day by UNiTE to End Violence against Women Campaign. The colour orange was chosen as it symbolizes a brighter future, free of violence. The global theme for this year’s 16 Days of Activism is “Unite! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls”.
Ways in which Soroptimists commemorate the 16 Days of Activism
Following are some examples of how members of SIGBI have commemorated the 16 Days of Activism over the past few years:
2018 – SI South East England members wore orange at their November Regional Meeting
2019 – SI Canterbury organised their first Silent March through the streets of Canterbury for the 16 Days of Activism. 
SI President in 2019, Millie Brierley (pictured second from the right) initiated what has become an annual commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism. The Rt Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Bishop of Dover, and Rosie Duffield MP both addressed those present before the march commenced. Members from across the South East England also joined the march.
2021 – SI Tunbridge Wells held a Silent Vigil outside the Town Hall in Tunbridge Wells
2022 – SI Canterbury organised their third Silent March through the streets of Canterbury.
Members of Staff from the Rising Sun, Domestic Violence & Abuse Service, based in Canterbury, also joined the march. SI Canterbury supports the work of the Rising Sun. During the march, we could hear members of the public making some very supportive comments and one lady even joined the march for part of the way. Once again, members from across the region joined the march and it was a very positive and worthwhile event.
2023 – SI Canterbury will once again be holding a silent march through the streets of Canterbury on Saturday, 25th November, and hopes to be joined by members from across the region and others who wish to commemorate the 16 Days of Activism.
Yvonne Freeman
Regional Programme Action Officer
SI South East England