From November 25 to December 10, 2023, the world commemorates the annual international campaign ''16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence''.
With this in mind, all United Nations staff in Gabon took a family photo at the United Nations House.
Indeed, since 1991, from November 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) to December 10 (International Human Rights Day), the international community has observed 16 days of activism against gender-based violence. The dates are highly symbolic, underlining the fact that violence against women is a violation of human rights.
UNFPA's campaigns for these 16 days have raised awareness and advocacy, and inspired initiatives to combat gender-based violence in all its forms, including sexual harassment, child marriage, female genital mutilation, domestic violence and rape.
Yet this work seems never-ending. In 2020, UNFPA provided essential services to over 967,000 survivors of gender-based violence, including those with disabilities. More than 1.7 million girls benefited from prevention and protection services for child, forced and early marriage, and 350,000 girls were saved from genital mutilation between 2018 and 2020. As part of the Sustainable Development Goals, UNFPA is committed on a daily basis to the elimination of gender-based violence and harmful practices by 2030.
According to the Centre for Women's Global Leadership, which launched the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence campaign with participants from its Global Institute, more than 6,000 organizations in 187 countries took part, moving towards the goal of urgently eliminating gender-based violence.
Wherever there are women and girls, UNFPA fights for their rights and their sexual and reproductive health.
