The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that kicks off on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day.
The campaign was started by activists at the inauguration of the Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991. It continues to be coordinated each year by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership. It is used as an organizing strategy by individuals and organizations around the world to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.
In support of this civil society initiative, the United Nations Secretary-General launched in 2008 the campaign UNiTE by 2030 to End Violence against Women, which runs parallel to the 16 Days of Activism.
Every year, the UNiTE Campaign focuses on a specific theme. This year’s theme is “UNITE! Activism to end violence against women and girls” and invites everyone to play their role in ending violence against women and girls, show support and solidarity to women’s rights activists and to resist the rollback on women’s rights. You can access the concept note here.

“16 giorni di attivismo contro la violenza di genere” (in inglese, “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence”) è una campagna globale che prende il via ogni anno il 25 novembre, in occasione della Giornata internazionale per l’eliminazione della violenza contro le donne, e si protrae fino al 10 dicembre, la Giornata Internazionale per i diritti umani. La campagna, lanciata nel 1991 da diversi attivisti in occasione dell’inaugurazione del Women’s Global Leadership Institute, viene coordinata ogni anno dal Centro per la leadership mondiale delle donne (in inglese, Center for Women’s Global Leadership). Organizzazioni e singoli individui di tutto il mondo partecipano alla “16 Days Campaign” per invitare a prevenire e sradicare episodi di violenza contro donne e ragazze.