Today is the beginning of a 16 day focus on ending gender based violence around the world, beginning with today’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and ending on 10th December which is Human Rights Day. This is not a new campaign, it began in 1991 following action by Center for Women’s Global Leadership. This year the campaign referred to as UNiTE is emphasising the need for sustainable financing for efforts to end violence against women and girls towards the fulfillment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. According to the UN, frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals, which includes a target to end violence against women and girls.

“To bring this issue to the fore, the UN Secretary-General’s campaign UNiTE to End Violence against Women’s call for the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence in 2016 is ‘Orange the World: Raise Money to End Violence against Women and Girls’. The initiative provides a moment to bring the issue of sustainable financing for initiatives to prevent and end violence against women to global prominence and also presents the opportunity for resource mobilization for the issue.”

A number of local initiatives are taking place too including the University of Sussex (USSU) students Reclaim the Night event to demand an end to sexual violence and reclaim the streets as a place of safety. The march is due to begin from 6pm at Brighton Train Station, and will continue to the Synergy Centre for the official after event, featuring a variety of talks and performances. The event is inclusive to all and accessible. For more information see this link to their facebook page.