Updated: November 13, 2025
These 16 days are observed from November 25th to December 10th each year.
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that kicks off on November 25th, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until December 10th, Human Rights Day. It was started by activists at the inaugural Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991 and later coordinated 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 UNiTE campaign to End Violence against Women, which runs parallel to the 16 Days of activism.
Every year, the UNiTE Campaign focuses on a specific theme and this year’s is “End digital violence against all women and girls”. The campaign aligns with the broader framework of action to mark the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, one of the most progressive international agreements on women’s rights to date.
Join the global movement with the #NoExcuse campaign calling for:
- Governments to pass and enforce laws that criminalize digital violence, protect personal information and strengthen tech sector accountability.
- Tech companies to ensure platform safety, remove harmful content, enforce codes of conduct and publish transparent reports.
- Donors to invest in feminist organizations working to end violence against women and digital rights advocates.
- Individuals to speak out, support survivors, and challenge harmful online norms.
Rapid technological change is creating new risks and intensifying violence against women and girls across the online-offline continuum. As outlined in the Secretary General’s latest report on violence against women and girls (VAWG), digital technologies have enabled new forms and patterns of VAWG. Perpetrators are using a range of digital tools and platforms to inflict gender-based harm, abuse, hate speech, control, harassment and violence. The proliferation of misogynistic content in online spaces, including the manosphere is increasingly permeating mainstream platforms, perpetuating harmful masculinities and discriminatory social norms that fuel violence against women and girls. — UN Women Concept Note 2025
1 in 3 women experience violence in their lifetime. 1 in 4 adolescent girls is abused by an intimate partner. — UN Women & World Health Organization
United Nations Secretary-General’s Campaign UNITE to End Violence Against Women: Concept Note 2025 – UN Women
November 25 International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women – United Nations
16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence: What You Can Do – World Health Organization
In NYC, the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign is co-led by the NYC Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence (ENDGBV) and the NYC Commission on Gender Equity (CGE), which sits under the NYC Mayor’s Office of Equity & Racial Justice (MOERJ), in partnership with city agencies and community organizations.
16 Books for 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence – New York Public Library
Center for the Women of New York (CWNY)
CWNY’s list of resources on Domestic Violence Awareness
CWNY’s list of resources on Intimate Partner Violence Awareness
CWNY’s list of resources on Sexual Assault Awareness
CWNY’s list of resources on Stalking Awareness
CWNY’s list of resources on Abuser/Batterer Intervention
CWNY’s list of resources on Human Trafficking Prevention