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The 16 Days Campaign Joins Activists From Around the World
New Brunswick, NJ, November 21, 2013—On November 25, 2013,
the Center for Women’s Global Leadership (CWGL) at Rutgers University will
launch the 23rd annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based
Violence Campaign. CWGL will join thousands of activists from around the world
in a call for an end to gender-based violence and more substantial responses on
the part of governments to act with due diligence in protecting and preventing
gender-based violence. Numerous events are planned for the 16 Days Campaign.
Participating organizations include: Mesa Local
contra la Violencia de Género de San Isidro (Argentina); Women’s Aid
(Ireland); National Center Against Violence (Mongolia); YUWA (Nepal); Vuk'uWazi Institute for Social Change (South
Africa); and Kenaz - Desarrollo de Proyectos
Sociales (Spain), among many others.
Symbolically designated to emphasize that
gender-based violence is a human rights violation, the 16 Days Campaign begins
on International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (November
25) and concludes on International Human Rights Day (December 10). The Campaign
theme, “From Peace in the Home to
Peace in the World: Let’s Challenge Militarism and End Violence Against Women!”
highlights the intersections of gender-based violence and militarism, as well
as the related issues of economic and social rights experienced by women and
their communities.
As militarism continues to be a key source
of gender-based violence, with detrimental consequences for the safety and
security of women, children, and men, CWGL is engaging with 16 Days Campaign
participants to challenge the normalization of militarism and strengthen
advocacy against socioeconomic structures that perpetuate gender-based
violence. The Campaign acknowledges that violent masculinities, harmful
traditions, and legal policies help normalize gender-based violence and
impunity. The impact of militarism can be seen in the way military budgets and
war are supported while ignoring the daily lives of women, children, and men
who are denied social, political, economic rights and attacked or killed for
advocating for these rights.
“Gender-based
violence and militarism are deeply interconnected with economic and social
rights. It is not enough to simply say we must end gender-based violence;
economic access and social equality are structurally part of the full
realization of the human rights of all individuals. When women are empowered
economically and security is ensured, the world stands to gain” says Dr.
Radhika Balakrishnan, Executive Director of CWGL, global coordinator of the 16
Days Campaign.
CWGL is hosting a social media
mobilization effort on Twitter and Facebook throughout the 16 Days Campaign,
and will be sharing a “Question of the Day,” blogs on various aspects of the
Campaign theme, and other information on resources and planned events
worldwide. Follow @16DaysCampaign and use the #16days hashtag to
join the discussion.
There is
no country and no society unaffected by gender-based violence and it continues
to be the responsibility of all people to bring an end to this human rights
violation. From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, the 16 Days Campaign is a powerful
platform to raise the call for an end to gender-based violence and to advocate
for the full realization of human rights and achievement of gender equality.
For more
information, visit http://16dayscwgl.rutgers.edu/
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Center for Women's Global Leadership
Contact: Lucy V. Vidal
School of Arts and Sciences
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Tel: 1-848-932-8782
Fax: 1-732-932-1180
Email: cwgl@rci.rutgers.edu
Website: http://www.cwgl.rutgers.edu