In focus: 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence
The United Nations is marking the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence from 25 November to 10 December 2021, under the global theme set by the UN Secretary- General’s UNiTE campaign: “Orange the World: End Violence against Women Now!”
Nearly 1 in 3 women have been abused in their lifetime. In times of crises, the numbers rise, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic and recent humanitarian crises, conflicts and climate disasters. A new report from UN Women, based on data from 13 countries since the pandemic, shows that 2 in 3 women reported that they or a woman they know experienced some form of violence and are more likely to face food insecurity. Only 1 in 10 women said that victims would go to the police for help.
While pervasive, gender-based violence is not inevitable. It can and must be prevented. Stopping this violence starts with believing survivors, adopting comprehensive and inclusive approaches that tackle the root causes, transform harmful social norms, and empower women and girls. With survivor-centred essential services across policing, justice, health, and social sectors, and sufficient financing for the women’s rights agenda, we can end gender-based violence.
The Generation Equality Forum that concluded in Paris in July set the momentum for decisive actions and investment to advance gender equality. The UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women, the only global grant-making mechanism dedicated to ending and preventing all forms of violence against women, has announced a special fundraising challenge, #Give25forUNTF25, marking 25 years of grant-making to support women’s organizations around the world.
Take action
You can take action during the 16 Days of Activism. Here are some ideas:
- Download the social media package and use the hashtags #orangetheworld #16days here
- Get the Orange the World logo and branding guidelines
- Sign the ‘medestander’ pledge here
Accelerating Gender Equality Efforts at Global Compact Network Netherlands
Extending our efforts in advancing gender equality business’ performance, the Global Compact Network Netherlands organized an online event that brought together gender equality stakeholders from the Netherlands represented by SER, Aon, PwC and Rabobank, and the United Nations represented by UN Global Compact and UN Women to explore the business case, the challenges, and the opportunities for making gender equality strategies successful in the private sector.
During the event the speakers addressed the business case for diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and why is the role of the private sector important in achieving the global goal SDG5 on gender equality. On occasion of this engaging event, Heineken N.V., one of our TGE (Target Gender Equality) Programme participants has officially committed to the UN WEPs, will publicly announce their commitment to gender equality globally on the occasion of “Orange the World: End Violence against Women Now!”,
and lighting some of their buildings globally. Heineken N.V joins as a signatory company of the UN WEPs together with other TGE companies participating in the Global Compact Network Netherlands TGE Programme together with the growing list of companies signing the WEPs globally.
Watch the recording of the event below
About the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs)
The WEPs are a set of Principles offering guidance to business on how to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment in the workplace, marketplace and community. Established by UN Global Compact and UN Women, the WEPs are informed by international labour and human rights standards and grounded in the recognition that businesses have a stake in, and a responsibility for, gender equality and women’s empowerment.
About the Target Gender Equality Programme
Target Gender Equality is a gender equality accelerator programme for participating companies of the UN Global Compact. Through facilitated performance analysis, capacity building workshops, peer-to-peer learning and multi-stakeholder dialogue at the country-level, Target Gender Equality will support companies engaged with the UN Global Compact in setting and reaching ambitious corporate targets for women’s representation and leadership, starting with the Board and Executive Management levels.
Companies participating in Target Gender Equality have the opportunity to deepen implementation of the Women’s Empowerment Principles and strengthen their contribution to Sustainable Development Goal 5.5, which calls for equal women representation, participation and leadership in business globally. Companies will be equipped with the latest data and research supporting the business case for gender equality and gain insights from UN partners and experts on how to accelerate progress on gender equality.