Support Egypt Today in saying No to gender-based violence

CAIRO – 25 November 2017: In support of the international 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) action, Egypt Today is launching the “Break the silence ... Say No to Violence” campaign, calling for a commitment to free Egypt from violence targeting women and girls.

The campaign, which will extend throughout the 16 days, aims to both reflect on violence against women and to remind people that they can take action now and throughout the year to eliminate that violence in all its forms.

Stay tuned over the next few days for more information on how you can personally contribute to the 16 days of activism, in addition to informative content including infographics, messages from female and male influencers, as well as a coverage relevant events on the national, regional and international levels.

What is the 16 Days campaign?

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) campaign is an annual international campaign that starts on November 25, the International Day of the Elimination of Violence against Women, and ends o December 10, the Human Rights Day. It highlights the indelible fact that any form of violence against girls and women is a human rights violation. The 16 days also overlap with the International Women Human Rights Defenders Day on November 29.


Logo of the campaign led by the UN Secretary General

Since 1991, the Center for Women’s Global Leadership (CWGL) at Rutgers University has led the campaign involving more than 5,478 individuals, organizations, and policymakers from more than 180 countries across the world. The first campaign was launched under the title “Violence against Women Violates Human Rights” and the theme was used again the following year.

Despite progress, problems still hinder women and girls’ advancement and full participation in society. 70% of women and girls around the world still experience violence at least once in their lifetime. Moreover, women and girls still face social and cultural barriers that prevent them from achieving their potential.

As of 2010, the year the U.N. Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) was established, the U.N. UNiTE to End Violence against women campaign became the overall umbrella campaign encouraging activities and events around the world to galvanize action to end violence against girls and women. Each year, a dedicated “Take Action Kit” is designed and published to guide people, organizations and governments on how to be involved in the campaign.

“Leave No One Behind: End Violence against Women and Girls”

Each year, the campaign either introduces a new theme or continues an old theme. The dedicated theme focuses on one particular aspect of inequality and works to bring attention to the issue. The theme for the 2017’s campaign of activism on GBV is “Leave No One Behind: End Violence against Women and Girls” aiming to highlight the core principle of the transformative 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Leave No One Behind. It shows that ending violence against girls and women as described in the fifth sustainable development goal on gender equality can transform the world. During the campaign governments, international organizations and NGOs will organize activities designed to raise public awareness.

GBV is deeply rooted in societies across the world:

“Gender inequality persists worldwide, depriving women and girls of their basic rights and opportunities. Achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls will require more vigorous efforts, including legal frameworks, to counter deeply rooted gender-based discrimination that often results from patriarchal attitudes and related social norms,” reads the latest report by the U.N. Secretary General on progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

GBV involves the abuse of power and control over another person and is perpetrated against someone based on their gender identity. Violence against women and girls is one form of GBV that affects us all. It destroys families, weakens the social fabric of society and takes a heavy toll on communities and the economy.

If we look closely around, we can see the roots of GBV, be it in sexist jokes that degrade women, in media messages that objectify women and glorify masculinity, and in the rigid gender norms imposed on young children.


Courtesy of the Official 16 Days of Activism Against Gender