16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence

Orange the World: Fund Respond, Prevent, Collect!                                      (25 November-10 December 2020)

Let’s all participate to end violence against women

The annual 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence (GBV) campaign kicks off this week on Wednesday.  The theme of this year`s campaign “Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect!” captures all the necessary actions needed to successfully eradicate violence against women in a year that saw GBV cases increase due to the outbreak of COVID 19 pandemic that cornered vulnerable women by placing them in isolation with their largely patriarchal husbands.

It is imperative that everyone fully participates in this highly significant campaign originated by female activists at the inaugural Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991. Male youths` participation in the 16 Days of Activism is encouraged to eliminate the misconception that movements to do with the emancipation of women only require women in action. The 16 Days of Activism campaign strives to create a better society for both women and men by bringing into awareness that GBV is a gross human rights violation against women. It affects women`s freedom by annihilating their voices as well as affect their psychological and emotional state of mind. Hundreds of women across Matabeleland South live in fear of their husbands; they are afraid to speak out, due to some myths that champion male hegemony, therefore, the 16 Days of Activism is a huge campaign that will give space to women to speak out against GBV. 

It is in the heart of Community Youth Development Trust (CYDT) to see female youths fully enjoy their constitutional rights such as attaining education and being involved in decision making, therefore, the organisation encourages the masses across Matabeleland South to go all out in campaigning against GBV in this year`s 16 Days of Activism campaign. As CYDT, we encourage youths to advocate for an environment that improves the representation, participation and the wellbeing of disadvantaged women in Matabeleland South when the campaign against GBV begins on Wednesday. Let’s push for an environment in which women are not afraid to speak out against GBV!

Special Recommendations:

• Those who can manage are encouraged to find orange clothes as proposed by the United Nations
• Create placards, posters with information related to the 16 Days of Activism