Above: Programme Action Lead, Rosemary Jenkinson, practicing her “kissing goodbye” pose in readiness for the 16 Days of Action
16 Days of Action Against Gender-Based Violence is an international campaign to challenge violence against women and girls. The campaign runs every year from 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10 December, Human Rights Day.
The movement was first begun at the Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991, an event sponsored by the Centre for Women’s Global Leadership. Since 1991, 5,167 groups in 187 countries have contributed to promoting and supporting these 16 Days. Large organisations such as the world-renowned Amnesty International and World Health Organisation support and celebrate the 16 Days, as well as far more local, grassroots projects. Each organisation approaches the 16 Days differently, some, such as the World Health Organisation, promote 16 facts regarding domestic violence in order to educate the public on an under-reported and misunderstood violation of human rights.
SI Sunderland Club members will be marking the 16 Days of Action with big orange “kisses” on social media.