16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign 2024
HELPLINES
Scotland's Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline
Call: 0800 027 1234 Text/Whatsapp: 07401288595 Email: helpline@sdafmh.org.uk
Inverclyde Women's Aid
Helpline: 01475 888505 Rape and Sexual Abuse Helpline: 01475 888110 Office: 01475 781689
For 32 years, the annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign (formerly known as 16 Days of Activism to Eliminate Violence Against Women) has been inspiring global reflection, learning and challenging of violence against women and girls (VAWG).
The international theme this year is ‘UNiTE to End Violence Against Women and Girls’ and calls for global action to increase awareness, galvanise advocacy efforts and share knowledge and innovations to end VAWG once and for all.
The “16 Days” of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) campaign will run across Scotland from 25 November (International Day against Violence against Women) until 10 December 2024 (International Human Rights Day).
This year the main theme is ‘Imagine a Scotland without GBV.’ In line with the ‘light up’ theme aiming to place a spotlight on VAW, Inverclyde will join local authorities across Scotland by lighting up the Beacon Arts Centre and the Shipbuilders Sculptures in Port Glasgow. Purple has been chosen as the colour to highlight the campaign due to its long association with raising awareness of domestic abuse and gender-based violence. Purple was worn by early women’s rights activists and today it is an important colour for campaigners. It was used in the early 1900s when the women’s suffrage movement and currently in the UK as a symbol of purity, hope, and loyalty.
Gender-based violence refers to harmful acts that are directed towards a person based on their gender. Men and women can experience gender-based violence but most victims are women and girls.
In Scotland, VAWG refers to a range of actions which cause harm, suffering or indignity to women and children because they are female. This can include physical, sexual, or psychological violence, sexual harassment, commercial sexual exploitation including prostitution, pornography, and trafficking.
Domestic abuse refers to any form of physical, verbal, sexual, psychological or financial abuse which might amount to criminal conduct and which takes place within the context of a relationship. The relationship will be between partners (married, cohabiting, civil partnership or otherwise) or ex-partners. The abuse may be committed in the home or elsewhere including online.
Why do we need "16 Days"?
All women are at risk of violence, with 1 in 3 women experiencing physical or sexual violence, mostly from an intimate partner.
How do I know if I’m experiencing gender-based violence?
If you are unsure if you may be experiencing gender-based violence, please visit the Women's Aid webpage: "I'm not sure if my relationship is healthy". This page outlines different kinds of abuse and how to spot them. This page can be found in the Other Websites tab of this page, to the right of the screen
Please see the Helpline numbers at the top of the page or the links on this page for more information.
Violence against women and girls is not always physical. "Violence" can take many forms ranging from physical to emotional, sexual or economic.
While all women are vulnerable to violence, women with disabilities, ethnic minority groups and women living in conflict zones or fleeing crisis situations are more susceptible to experiencing domestic abuse.
Don't we have equality now?
Although our society has come a long way in recent years towards a more equal environment for all, a lot of work remains to be done.
Violence Against Women and Girls Affects Everyone
During the ‘16 Days’ Inverclyde Women’s Aid (IWA) will be holding several information/awareness drop in sessions across the community on the following dates:
- 25th of November-West College Scotland (Finnart Street Campus, 10am-2pm)
- 28th of November-West College Scotland (Waterfront Campus, 10am-2pm)
- 3rd of December-Broomhill Community Centre (10am-2pm)
- 8th of December-A service will be held at St Mary’s Church, Patrick Street, Greenock at 2pm to highlight the campaign
- 10th of December-Auchmountain Resource Centre (10am-2pm)
- Empowerment Walks will be held on the 27th of November and the 4th of December. These are open to any women who want to join and are invited to meet at Inverclyde Women’s Aid Office, 41 High Street, Greenock, PA15 1NR at 10.30am on either date. Following the walks participants are invited to the office for coffee and a chat.
- A Fire Walk will take place on Friday the 29th of November 2024 for invited guests to mark the campaign and recognise the strength of the women who have come forward and accessed support from Inverclyde Women’s Aid. A promotional video for the Fire Walk can be found in the Documents tab of this page, to the right of the screen.
The campaign will be promoted at Cappielow with a banner on the pitch side and posters around the public areas of the stadium with a QR code that links straight to the ’16 Days’ website.
Police Scotland will be promoting the ‘Ask for Angela’ campaign to licensed premises across the division and delivering training to police officers. Domestic Abuse training will also be delivered to new probationer police officers and to response Police Sergeants in relation to the role of the Domestic Abuse Investigation Unit. Proactive work with a focus on perpetrators and risk will be carried out during the ‘16 Days.’
