16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence

is an international campaign that runs over 16 days, interspersed with a series of activities to confront gender-based violence from 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10 December, Human Rights Day. Linking the memory of the two occasions with each other aims to convey the idea that violence against women and girls constitutes an obvious and explicit violation of human rights. The campaign also includes important dates such as the International Day of Human Rights Defenders (November 29) and the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3). World AIDS Day (December 1), and the anniversary of the Montreal massacre, which falls on December 6.

The campaign was organized as a strategic move by individuals and groups around the world to advocate for the elimination of violence against women and girls through:

• Raising awareness about gender-based violence as a human rights issue at the national, local, regional, and international levels.
• Strengthening local action on violence against women and girls to end violence against them
• Confronting policies and practices that allow women to be victims or targets of violence
• Show the systematic solidarity of the world’s women in the face of violence against women.
• Create tools to pressure Governments to deliver on the promises they have made to eliminate violence against women.

Let’s Unite to Involve and Empower Women and Girls:

The year 2021 witnessed an explicit spread of cases of gender-based violence against women and girls as a result of the extended quarantine and social distancing measures, which imposed forced coexistence in narrow living spaces and increased family tension, in addition to cases of domestic violence, emotional abuse and digital violence (practiced on social media) and denial of resources and services to families in need.

Reports indicated that owing to deteriorating economic conditions and loss or reduction of income as a result of preventive measures of the Covid- 19 pandemic and quarantine imposed, there has been an increase in incidents of partner violence. (physical, sexual and emotional), which in some cases led to suicide attempts, especially among underage girls who were forcibly married by their families, and among abused women, as well as a high incidence of drug addiction and other tranquilizers among women and girls.

The “Unite for the involve and Empower of Women and Girls” campaign, which spans more than 16 days of activities, aims to raise awareness and knowledge about gender-based violence among community members and humanitarian workers. The campaign also aims to encourage women survivors to reach out to specialized service providers, both in-person and online and emphasizes the role of all humanitarian workers as well as individuals in supporting survivors and promoting referrals between gender-based violence workers and other sectors, in addition to strengthening care and encouraging all members of society to be supportive partners for women and girls.

The campaign included various pre-campaign activities in preparation for the campaign and activities such as home visits, preparation, and baking of confectionery, as well as the making woolen scarfs.

16 days of various activities and events

The young women’s team at Azaz Center participated in the 16-day campaign on violence against women by providing various events and activities for women in the community.

The group’s activities began by showing videos about the campaign in Al-Amal Hospital, which included awareness sessions for women and girls regarding violence against women. A presentation was also carried out to convey the reality of girls through painting and silent performances, as well as recreational activities, which included intelligence games, chess, wall painting, narrator activity, and preparing sweets. The event concluded with an exhibition entitled “The Exhibition of creativity” in which women participated in various handicrafts, poetry, and drawing. it also included a special activity for the male and female employees in honor of their efforts.

“My Exile” play … a simulation of reality:

The events of the play “My Exile”, one of the simple linguistic plays presented by a group of girls, revolves around a displaced girl whose family member died, leading to her exposure to many psychological problems, and her addiction to the Internet, where this girl faces problems in recovery, integration, and learning.

After the presentation, discussions were held on the problem and possible solutions from the audience’s point of view.

For ten years now, the Syrian woman has been facing a constant threat to her life through continuous bombing, as well as being displaced to an unknown destination and camps that lack respect for privacy. Many women are now suffering from a lack of job opportunities and consequently the difficulty of securing their needs, especially with the loss of a spouse or breadwinner.

In these current conditions, girls are at risk of early marriage, which makes them more likely to be deprived of their basic rights such as completing their education.

Despite the risks and threats facing Syrian women, neither the international community nor women’s and human rights organizations have taken any practical and explicit steps to stop the violence against women practiced by the Assad regime forces and its allies.

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