33 years of 16 Days of Activism

24 Nov, 2024

The 16 Days of Activism Against Violence Against Women runs from 25 November to 10 December each year. This international campaign was conceived in 1991 during the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute at Rutgers University, New Jersey in the United States.

FWCC Coordinator Shamima Ali was one of 23 women leaders from around the world who attended the institute and founded the campaign at Rutgers that year. Participants chose the dates to symbolically link violence against women (25 November) and human rights (10 December) and to emphasize that violence against women is a gross violation of human rights.

In Fiji and the Pacific, 16 Days has not only put the focus on the continuing violation of women’s human rights, but it has also played a significant part in the movement for democracy, rule of law and human rights.

16 Days of Activism founders include:

•         Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre Coordinator Shamima Ali.

•         Centro de La Mujer Peruana Flora Tristan in Peru, Gina Sedamanos.

•         CEFEMINA Costa Rica, Ana Carcedo.

•         Helsinki Committee Czechoslovakia, Jana Chrzova.

•         Caribbean Association for Feminist Research and Action Trinidad and Tobago, Roberta Clarke.

•         Women’s Hotline Korea, Woo-Seoup Han.

•         Coordenadorio Especial da Mulher Pav.Pe. Manoel de Nobrega in Brazil, Simone Grilo Dini.

•         Violence and Health Development, and Project USA, Lori Heise.

•         AVESA Venezuela, Magally Huggins.

•         ROKS Sweden, Ebon Kram.

•         AGHS Legal Aid Cell Pakistan, Hina Jilani.

•         WIN Ministry of Justice Nigeria, Pat Mahmoud.

•         Union of Palestinian Working Women Committees East Jerusalem via Israel, Rana Nashashibi.

•         Women’s Centre India, Lata P.M.

•         Women’s Aid Ireland, Monica O’Connor.

•         MATCH International Centre Canada, Anettte Pypops.

•         WCA Crisis Centre Zambia, Felicia Sakala.

•         Education Wife Assault Canada, Marsha Sfeir.

•         Women’s Action Group Zimbabwe, Everjoice Win.

•         Foundation for Women Thailand, Siriporn Skrobanek.

Centre for Women’s Global Leadership members that were involved are Director Charlotte Bunch, Program Associate Susana Fried, Institute Coordinator Roxanna Carrillo, and Program Associate Niamh Reilly.