The 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence is an international campaign originating from the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute sponsored by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership in 1991 that runs from 25th November to 10th December. This 16-day period highlights other significant dates, including November 29, International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, December 1, World AIDS Day, and December 6, the Anniversary of the Montreal Massacre.
The 16 Days of Activism focuses on:
- raising awareness at the local, national, regional and international levels about gender-based violence
- strengthening local work
- linking local and global work
- providing a forum for dialogue and strategy-sharing
- pressuring governments to implement commitments made in national and international legal instruments
- demonstrating the solidarity of activists around the world
The young women leaders organized events in their various counties to commemorate the 16 Days of Activism.
In Nairobi County, the young women leaders organized a Public debate on 5th December, 2011 at Charter Hall. This provided a forum for discussing gender based violence with an aim of bringing out the causes of violence against women and measures to its prevention by the women and community at large. The Youth turned out in large numbers with the debate forming a platform for insightful discussions on the causes of SGBV
The topics of debate were engaging and participatory and captured “A woman is battered by her husband because she deserves it” and “Perpetrators of Sexual Offenses are motivated to commit such offenses by indecently dressed women
In Kiambu County there was a Cleanup in Ruiru Town and Market to sensitize the women and community on Gender based violence, its ills, causes and measures to take in the event it occurs. This was with a view to Income Generating Activities, which is the thematic field of Kiambu County Young Women Leaders. There was a Public Walk from Ruiru Stadium to the town centre where IEC materials were distributed by the Young Women Leaders at the same time enlightening the community on the main agenda of the 16 Days of Activism. It took place on 7th December, 2011
In Machakos County, the young women held a public forum that engaged stakeholders from different institutions with an objective of creating awareness on Gender based violence with a view of the Constitution of Kenya and the protection and gains it affords to women.There was a road show around Machakos town, with a culmination of the forum in the Municipal Social Hall, Machakos.
