We are actively supporting the campaign to advance the human rights of women, The Global 16 Days Campaign. Did you know that as many as 1 in 3 women worldwide experience violence[1]? Gender-based violence against women is one of today’s most widespread and persistent human rights violations. Women suffer in silence as gender-based violence against women often remains unreported, mainly due to the stigma and shame surrounding it. The immediate and long-term physical, sexual, and mental consequences for women and girls are devastating and in many cases tragically resulting in, death. The consequences are far-reaching, and prevent women from fully participating in society.

Campaigners have not stood still: raising awareness and actively pursuing to end gender-based violence against women. One group created to eliminate and raise awareness about gender-based violence against women is the annual international campaign, 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, initially developed by the Women’s Global Leadership Institute. Since the campaign was launched in 1991, it has become known and continues to be coordinated by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership.

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, from 25th November to 10th December, coincides with the International Day of Human Rights and so, in this way, further emphasises that gender-based violence against women is a violation of human rights. The campaign was created to bring together individuals and groups around the world to call for the elimination of all forms of gender-based violence against women. The United Nations Secretary-General created UNiTE By 2030 to End Violence Against Women Campaign as a way of supporting the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, calling for a global response to increase awareness and develop a shared understanding of a way to eliminate gender-based violence against women.

This campaign also seeks to uncover the reality of human rights violations against women and girls worldwide.

Show your support and solidarity to this campaign through your social media activity and turn the world orange by advocating the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence on your social media and use the hashtag #16Days or #OrangeTheWorld.

You’ll find a range of resources online to further explore this issue. To support the campaign, read the strong, raw and emotional, What If It Were You? by our award-winning author and activist, Elizabeth Arif-Fear.

This campaign also seeks to uncover the reality of human rights violations against women and girls worldwide.

Show your support and solidarity to this campaign through your social media activity and turn the world orange by advocating the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence on your social media and use the hashtag #16Days or #OrangeTheWorld.

You’ll find a range of resources online to further explore this issue. To support the campaign, read the strong, raw and emotional, What If It Were You? by our award-winning author and activist, Elizabeth Arif-Fear.

As the founder and editor of Voice of Salam, she is an internationally recognised human rights activist and promoter of an interfaith platform. She debuted her first poetry collection, What If It Were You? In 2019. The book seeks to raise awareness of the struggles of many women and is a call for peace, justice and humanity across the globe. What If It Were You? focuses on various critical issues on women’s rights. Uncover the reality of various forms of abuse of women and girls through the raw and emotive medium of poetry based on real experiences.

Throughout all December and January 22/23, we will be offering a 20% discount on all purchases of What If It Were You? Insert “orange20” when you check out, and we will donate £1 to every book sold to Children of Peace.

[1] Officer of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights: Call for inputs – Custody cases, violence against women and violence against children.