16 Days of Activism

16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence runs from 25 November to 10 December annually.

The international campaign was started by the Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991. It begins each year on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and runs until Human Rights Day.

The aim is to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.

Internationally, the UN Women 2025 theme for 16 Days of Activism is 'UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls’. 

Violence against women and girls affects one in three women (WHO, 2021). It is a global human rights emergency that must stop. The UN’s UNiTE 2025 campaign focuses on one of the fastest-growing forms of abuse: digital violence against women and girls. This year’s campaign is also a reminder that digital safety is central to gender equality.

Learn more about tech-based abuse and tips for staying safe online on the 1800RESPECT website.

Locally, UN Women Australia is continuing to spread the message of ‘Safe. Everywhere. Always.’​

A woman should be safe no matter where she is, what she’s doing or what she’s wearing. Violence against women doesn’t just happen in the home behind closed doors, it happens everywhere, and it takes on many forms.

We’ve pulled together a list of key resources within our website that can help support you.

People who are experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence:

• Safety Planning: Safety planning is identifying and planning things you can do to increase safety when living with violence or abuse.
• Escape Bag Checklist: Using this checklist, you can create, or a support service can help you create a list of important items that you may want to take with you if you are planning on leaving a violent or abusive relationship.
• Violence and the law: Find links to information, resources and support in each State and Territory.
• Safety apps for mobile phones: Here are a list of apps that may help increase your safety when using devices like mobile phones, iPads and tablets.
• eSafety Commissioner: Find information on preventing online risks, reducing the impacts of harms, reporting online abuse and building safer digital spaces.

Supporting someone: If you are supporting someone experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family and sexual violence:

• Domestic and family violence: Learn how you can support someone experiencing domestic and family violence.
• Sexual violence: Learn how you can support someone experiencing sexual violence.
• Talking with teens about violence: Learn how you can start a conversation with teenagers experiencing or impacted by domestic, family or sexual violence.
• Support services: Find out about the different kinds of services available for someone affected by domestic, family or sexual violence.

Professionals: If you are a professional supporting someone experiencing, or at risk of experiencing domestic, family and sexual violence:

• Training and professional development: Learn about various training and professional development opportunities available.
• Work-induced stress and trauma checklist: This checklist will help you understand how you are feeling about work.
• Risk frameworks: Learn more about Risk Assessment Frameworks.
• Events and webinars: Find upcoming domestic, family and sexual violence related conferences, events and webinars.
• Workers and Professionals Connect Newsletter: Keep up with the latest updates from 1800RESPECT and sector news through our quarterly newsletter.

We encourage you to follow and tag us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube and Threads to help spread awareness about our service.

You are also welcome to share our social media tiles. To download, click on the .zip file below. The .zip file includes 7 images, and a PDF document detailing suggested captions and supporting text.

1800RESPECT is the national domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support service.

If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing domestic, family and sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit www.1800respect.org.au for online chat and video call services – available 24/7.

In an emergency, call 000. 

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• More information here: Promoting 1800RESPECT | 1800RESPECT