Invitation to participate !
November 25 - the International Day for the Elimination of Violence* Against Women - marks the first day of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence, and December 10 – International Human Rights Day – is the final day. This 16 days of activism is recognized internationally, including in Switzerland.
Activities in Switzerland during the 16 Days of Activism are published:
For the German-speaking part by Christlicher Friedensdienst http://www.cfd-ch.org/16tage/index.php
For the French & Italian speaking part (including activities in English) by the White Ribbon Campaign CH : www.white-ribbon.ch. You are invited to inform us via (
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) of the date(s), title(s) and location of your activities during the 16 Days in order to include you in a list of initiatives to help make all Swiss events visible in our country.
Campaign Materials:
Feel free to download:
Pins (metal or cloth), to order, please, fill this Order Form
Facts - Violence in Switzerland
White Ribbon Brochure (in french)
Document: "What all men can do..."
White Ribbon Strategy CH 2013 - 2015
International Take Action Kit 2012: http://16dayscwgl.rutgers.edu/2012-campaign/2012-take-action-kit 25 November - 10 December 2012: Daily Open House at WWSF offices (except week-ends) to present the campaign strategy and promote efforts to help end violence against women and girls via information stands, presentations, etc. 4 December 2012 - Geneva Conference (CICG) (program in preparation)The White Ribbon Team
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2011: http://16dayscwgl.rutgers.edu/
2010: http://16dayscwgl.rutgers.edu/
* What is the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign?
Each year since 1991, tens of thousands of activists from every region of the world have taken part in the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign. The campaign’s central messages – women’s rights are human rights and violence against women constitutes a violation of human rights – have been a rallying call of the women’s movement. Recognizing that violence against women affects people from every country, race, class, culture, and religion, the 16 Days Campaign provides an opportunity for activists to work together in solidarity and draw upon this period of heightened international attention to gain support for their local efforts. In celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) during last year’s 16 Days Campaign, millions of people pledged their support for ending violence against women (VAW) and upholding human rights. Building upon this momentum, the Center for Women’s Global Leadership (CWGL) dedicates the 2009 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign to honoring groups and individuals who have committed to bringing VAW to the forefront of global attention, to encouraging everyone in their various capacities to take action to end VAW, and to demanding accountability for all of the promises made to eliminate VAW. Therefore, the 2009 theme is: COMMIT - ACT - DEMAND: We CAN End Violence Against Women!
COMMIT: WE ARE ALL RESPONSIBLE
In 1991 when 23 women from around the world met together at the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute at the Center for Women’s Global Leadership and envisioned the 16 Days Campaign, it was unlikely that any of them could have foreseen the incredible success of the campaign as a mobilizing tool. Because of their efforts and the commitment of so many other activists over the past 19 years, well over 2,000 organizations in 156 countries have organized around the 16 Days Campaign, and the issue of gender-based violence has received a significant amount of international attention. In planning for the campaign, CWGL asks you not only to honor and celebrate the achievements made to ending VAW, but also to encourage broad-based community participation by emphasizing that everyone has a role to play. We all have a responsibility to end gender-based violence together as women, girls, men, boys, and individuals of all generations, religions, occupations, sexual orientations, abilities, political persuasions, and socio-economic backgrounds.
ACT: WE CAN ALL MAKE A DIFFERENCE
2009 will mark the 10th anniversary of the United Nations’ formal recognition of November 25th as International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. There are many other landmark dates and documents that are the direct result of ACTION that women’s rights activists and defenders have taken. The anti-violence against women movement provides one of the best illustrations of how local activism can translate into global action. During the 2009 16 Days Campaign, CWGL encourages individuals, organizations, governments, etc. to take action on the commitments they have made to ending VAW. Each commitment – be it a personal pledge to speak out, a local or national law, an international convention or resolution, the Beijing Platform for Action – should be seen as a promise that has been made to women. NOW is the time to act on these promises. Every action, no matter how big or small, can make a difference!
DEMAND: WE ARE ALL ACCOUNTABLE
At the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995, women’s organizations from around the world met with government representatives and collaboratively produced the Beijing Platform for Action – one of the most forward - thinking government negotiated documents on women’s rights to date. This ground-breaking document set forth a list of actions, which, if implemented, would significantly reduce incidences of violence against women. 2010 marks the 15th anniversary of the Beijing Conference on Women. Therefore, we must all demand implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, as well as other key documents, and demand state accountability for ending impunity, allocating adequate resources, and implementing good laws and national action plans to address VAW. We also call on the UN to take bolder action on the UN Secretary-General’s “UNiTE to End VAW” Campaign Framework for Action. We are all accountable for playing our part in reducing violence at the individual and community levels, as well as at the nation-state and global levels.
For more information:
http://www.cwgl.rutgers.edu/16days/home.html