Soroptimist International – [25 Nov – 10 Dec 2013]

Global Happenings

16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence

25 November – 10 December 2013

Soroptimist International will be joining thousands of organisations around the world in taking part in 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, campaigning at local, national and international levels to END violence against women and girls. SI will be officially launching this year’s Global Impact Report, which focusses on violence against women and girls, during the 16 Days.

Soroptimist International will be joining thousands of organisations around the world in taking part in 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, campaigning at local, national and international levels to END violence against women and girls.

SI will be officially launching this year’s Global Impact Report, which focusses on violence against women and girls, during the 16 Days. We will be highlighting the report’s findings and featured case studies of Soroptimist projects to tackle gender-violence.

This year’s Global Impact Report will be produced entirely online for the first time, which means that the case studies and research will be easy to share and promote via social media. A new Soroptimist film on violence against women and girls will be launched as part of the GIR.

Soroptimists around the world can help to create a social media storm of messages to say NO to VAWG and yes to a future free from violence. We hope the biggest impact will be on 25 November, the UN’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

These 16 Days of Activism, which link 25 November (International Day Against Violence Against Women) with 10 December (International Human Rights Day), are co-ordinated by The Center of Women’s Global Leadership at Rutgers University, USA.

Let’s Create a Virtual Storm!

By showering social media networks with messages and actions we draw attention to the global crisis of VAWG , mobilise local and international communities to say NO,  and highlight initiatives  that prevent violence and support survivors. Media outlets also take notice of social media trends.

You can use Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or your club website to share reports, pictures and videos of your projects or events. Pass on useful information of work you admire, facts on local VAWG or inspiring quotes or case studies.

Even if you’re not a social media user yourself, you can participate by taking part in offline events and uploading reports to the PFR system, as well as emailing SI with pictures or reports of what you’re doing, or how your club has helped to tackle violence against women throughout the year.

Action Ideas

1.   Read and share the Global Impact Report, which will focus on violence against women and girls and will be launched during the 16 days:

• Show and share SI’s new film on violence against women and girls, which will be launched with the GIR. Embed it on your website and encourage local partner organisations to do the same.
• Highlight Soroptimist International’s global impact in tackling VAWG! The Global Impact Report’s “In Focus” section on VAWG, shows how educating, empowering and enabling opportunities for women and girls is making a difference around the world.
• Share Soroptimist VAWG projects from around the world. The Global Impact Report will include case studies of successful local, national and federation-wide projects.

2.    Tell people about your local VAWG projects.

• Publish a news story on your club website, share info on social media or even write a letter to your local paper to highlight that VAWG is an issue in YOUR area.
• Post ideas, success stories, individual stories, inspiring quotes and  photographs of any club activities to stop VAWG (not just those planned during 16 days of activism)

3.   Tweet (and Facebook) up a storm! If you’re on Twitter or Facebook, use the hash tags #16days and #Soroptimist to share posts like these:

• 1 in 3 women worldwide will experience violence in their lifetime?  Enough is enough #16Days #EndVAWG #Soroptimist
• 1 in 5 women will be a victim of rape or attempted rape in her lifetime #16days #Soroptimist
• Violence kills and disables as many women between the ages of 15 and 44 as cancer #16days
• An estimated 100 to 140 million girls & women worldwide live with the consequences of female genital mutilation #16days
• Don’t forget to re-tweet/share posts by other Soroptimists or related organisations too, or share links to articles or websites of interest

4.Support the UN : Orange the World in 16 Days

The UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign has proclaimed 25th of every month as “Orange Day” – a day to take action to raise awareness and prevent violence against women and girls. From 25 November to 10 December, the UN wants your help to make these actions bigger, bolder, and global.

Go orange for any event during the 16 days of activism: wear orange, give out orange ribbons in your market square, have a stall with orange products to raise funds for a local refuge….whatever you do, make sure you increase the impact by taking photos/video and sharing via social media.

5.    Build a local coalition to fight VAW over 16 days and take part in one of the following activities with other activists:

• Put up posters: “It’s time to talk about it. Talk early, talk often. Prevent sexual violence.”
• Stage a men and women demonstration against VAWG (you may need to get permission to demonstrate first). You may find the Enough is Enough resources – placards, flyers etc – from International Women’s Day useful.
• Collect funds at a local market on Nov 25th and give out leaflets and orange ribbons

Read more about Soroptimist International work to eliminate violence against women and girls.

Monthly Focus: Violence Against Women: Awareness and Education as Prevention