FAWCO and Gender Based Violence
Dear Research Network, Colleagues and Friends,
Plese see the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence below, headed by the Federation of American Women's Clubs Overseas (FAWCO). While the U.S. climate, overturning Roe v. Wade, marks a shift in protections for women and bodily autonoy, it is not the only country struggling with these issues.
FAWCO is highlighting gender based violence and could use your help! Please read below, share with others, and get involved where you can. The life you save could be your wife's daughter's aunt's ... the life that's saved could be your own!
The Misogynoir to Mishpat (M2M) Research Network (c) 2024
16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence 2024: November 25–December 10
Karen Castellon Human Rights Articles 28 October 2024
By Karen Castellon (FAWCO co-UN Liaison, FAUSA, AWC Berlin, AWAquitane), Mary Adams (AWC The Hague, Human Rights co-chair), Marelie Manders (Heidelerg IWC and Human Rights co-chair), and Laurie Richardson (AWA Vienna)
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence was launched in 1991 by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership at Rutgers University in New Jersey, USA. The Center is now part of Rutgers’ Institute for Women’s Leadership Consortium.
The United Nations supports the 16 Days campaign, and the 2024 theme of its UNiTE campaign is “Towards Beijing +30: UNiTE to End Violence Against Women and Girls.” In 2025, the global community marks the 30th anniversary review of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Reviews are underway to report on progress over the past 30 years in the 12 areas of concern. FAWCO representatives served as convenors for several review areas for NGO CSW Geneva’s Beijing +30 review of the UNECE region with Civil Society. Here’s the thing: the killing of women and girls is on the rise. This is happening in every country and region of the world. This killing of women, femicide, must stop.
One Woman: The UN Women Song, co-written by Beth Blatt (AAWE) and her colleagues Graham Lyle and Fahan Hassan, is beautiful and inspiring. Share this with your club, your friends. How many songs fit Kigali, Hanoi, Natal and Ramallah, LaHore, La Paz and Kampala in the first two sentences?
How was November 25 chosen as the first day of 16 Days?
Women’s rights activists lobbied the United Nations to commemorate November 25 as a day against gender-based violence. On this date in 1960, three of the Mirabal sisters were murdered in the Dominican Republic by order of dictator Rafael Trujillo. The story of these brave women is captured in the historical fiction novel, In the Time of Butterflies (Julia Alvarez, 1994).
The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution in 1993 with a declaration on the elimination of violence against women. Then on February 7, 2000, the UN voted to officially designate November 25 as the International day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. As such, the UN welcomes the partnership of governments and civil society such as international organizations and non-governmental organizations to support this issue and raise public awareness every year on this date.
The FAWCO Human Rights Team is pleased to share this in-depth array of resources to mark the 16 Days as an individual or with your club. You could choose an activity each day or pick one day. Tell a friend and take action in some way.
2024 Calendar: November 25 to December 10, 2024
(See below for details on each individual day.)
November 25 – Orange the World and Listen & Be Moved
November 25 is designated as an "orange day" by the UNiTE to End Violence against Women Campaign. The color orange was chosen by the United Nations to symbolize a brighter future, free of violence and therefore serves as the color of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. You can simply change your background to orange, or do a search on “Orange the World” or use the resources at the UN Women toolkit for Orange the World with social media resources here.
As you kick off the 16 Days Campaign, take a listen to the beautiful anthem for UN Women, “One Woman,” created by FAWCO member, Beth Blatt (AAWE Paris). 25 singers and musicians from around the world collaborated to produce this musical sensation. Listen and be moved.
November 26 – Learn more: Gender Equality at the UN
Find out more about gender equality at the United Nations from UN Women at the 79th UN General Assembly and the Generation Equality Accountability Report for 2024.
November 27 – Help a Friend: Share the NoMore.org Global Directory
Share the NO MORE Global Directory, a first-of-its-kind, comprehensive directory of domestic violence and sexual assault resources in every UN-recognized country and territory in the world.
Watch a video of Melissa Morbeck of the NoMore Foundation discussing the importance of this directory at the FAWCO Human Rights in Focus conference.
November 28 – Learn more: Host a Book Club or Movie Night
Choose a book about gender and gender equality and host a Book Club. On page 44 of the Safe and Equal 16 Days Toolkit, you can find a list of book suggestions or access the New York Public Library’s suggested reading list here.
Why not have a film night and watch a film relating to Gender-Based Violence? Suggestions are here.
November 29 – Measure Progress: Beijing Platform for Action +30
FAWCO members have taken part in a project to raise awareness on the achievements and challenges of UNECE Member States to implement the Beijing Platform for Action. NGO CSW Geneva has posted our statements, recommendations, and videos on the 12 critical areas as part of this review for the 30th anniversary in 2025.
November 30 – Do more: Recognize the Signs of Unhealthy vs. Healthy Relationships
One Love Foundation promotes recognizing the signs of unhealthy versus healthy relationships and shifting to healthy behaviors. Help people around you understand that it is important to not ignore these signs, as they can escalate to abuse. FAWCO sponsored a One Love workshop led by youth at the United Nations CSW68 in March 2024.
Learn to spot the signs of abuse and how to start a conversation on page 46 of the Safe and Equal Toolkit.