World YWCA Participates Actively in 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign 2011
Since its inception 21 years ago, the World YWCA has endorsed the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign - an international campaign originated from the Centre for Women’s Global Leadership (CWGL) at Rutgers University, New Jersey, USA, in 1991.
The dates of the campaign, which coincide with the International Day Against Violence Against Women (November 25) and International Human Rights Day (December 10), were intentionally chosen in order to symbolically link violence against women and human rights so as to highlight that such violence is a direct violation of women’s basic human rights. This year’s theme, “From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World,” seeks to highlight the connections between violence against women and militarism at all levels and will delve deeper into five issues: 1) The proliferation of small arms and their role in domestic violence; 2) Sexual and gender-based violence by state agents; 3) Political violence against women; 4) Sexual violence in conflict situations; and 5) Bridging women’s rights, human rights and peace movements to challenge militarism.
The World YWCA will partner with other organisations in Geneva, through the NGO Committee on the Status of Women, for a special panel on violence against women and remedies, and a panel discussion on the role of men and boys in ending violence against women, organised in partnership with the Canadian Mission to the UN and moderated by World YWCA General Secretary Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda . The organisation will also once again participate in the 16 days campaign run by Stardoll, a popular virtual online fashion community for teens ( www.stardoll.com). Each year, YWCA associations worldwide also participate in the 16 days campaign through a wide array of actions.
Read full statement of World YWCA for the 16 Days Campaign
