16 Days Of Activism Against Gender Based Violence Campaign

Be a part of creating safe and equal communities for women.

The Campaigns began in 1991 by the Women’s Global Leadership Institute with its first theme being Violence Against Women Violates Human Rights.

In 2008 the Secretary-General launched the Campaign UNITE by 2030 to End Violence against Women. In 2009 the UN Women launched the Say NO-UNITE to End Violence against Women as a Mobilization Platform for harnessing the Efforts of the UN and all Stakeholders involved in the Fight against Violence against Women by showcasing advocacies, news, and actions on ending violence against women and girls by people from all walks of life.

On the 25th of November in 1960, three Sisters from the Dominican Republic popularly known as the Mirabal Sisters (Patricia, Minerva, and Maria Teresa) were killed in the Las Mariposas assassination. They died at the hands of President Rafael Trujillo’s Secret Police after, they actively opposed the System of Ruling used by President Rafael of Cruelty and Systematic Violence.

Patricia, Minerva, and Maria Teresa even in their death were still activists of Human Rights and this was Symbolized by the date being declared International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in Latin America in 1990, and in 1991 it was recognized Globally.

25th November is the Commemoration of the International Day Against Violence Against Violence and 10th December is the Commemoration of the International Human Rights Day. Coincidentally, the 15 Days in between have Significant Memories especially for women as November 29 is International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, 1st December is World Aids Day, and December 6th is the Anniversary of the Montreal Massacre that saw 6 Women killed in 1989 by Marc Lupine in his quest to fight feminism.

These dates were specifically chosen to link violence against women and human rights to emphasize that gender-based violence against women is a violation of human rights.

In 2025, the UNiTE Campaign calls attention to the rapidly growing crisis of digital violence online harassment, gendered disinformation, image-based abuse, cyberbullying that undermines women’s rights and democracy worldwide.

In Tanzania, the October 2025 General Elections heightened the risks of digital violence and election-related GBV. Women candidates, journalists, and activists were subjected to smear campaigns, intimidation, and online harassment designed to silence their voices. The National Election Act, 2024 (Section 135) prohibits violence against women in elections, but enforcement remains weak.

At the same time, offline forms of GBV intimate partner violence, sexual violence, child marriage, harmful practices, economic exploitation remain pervasive, especially at the grassroots. Survivors face stigma, limited access to justice, and inadequate support services.

The 2025 16 Days Campaign in Tanzania will therefore:

  • Address all forms of GBV at national and grassroots levels.
  • Spotlight Digital, Politics and Elections-related violence (aligned with UNiTE).
  • Push for accountability, survivor support, and policy enforcement as foundations for justice and healing.
  • Engaging youth as key advocates and change agents: This year’s campaign is dedicated to creating meaningful spaces that promote active youth participation.
  • Mobilizing communities to take collective action against gender-based violence ensuring that people with disabilities who often face heightened vulnerabilities are actively engaged in community-led efforts to combat gender-based violence.
  • Strengthening partnerships to expand our reach and deepen our impact: leveraging collective expertise, mobilize resources, and foster inclusive collaboration. Through these strategic alliances, we can expand our reach to underserved communities and deepen our impact with sustainable, long-term solutions.
  1. Objectives
  • Based on the contextual analysis, 2025 campaign will focus on the following objectives: Document and spotlight digital, politics and election-related, and community GBV cases, publishing at least one national monitoring brief.
  • Secure accountability commitments from NEC, political parties, law enforcement, and ministries to enforce Section 135 of the National Election Act, 2024, and strengthen GBV response systems.
  • Provide survivor-centered support to at least 1,000 women and girls affected by online and offline GBV through healing circles, digital safety clinics, legal aid, and psychosocial referrals in 10 regions.
  • Raise nationwide awareness by reaching at least 3 million Tanzanians via media, social media, and grassroots dialogues, reinforcing the message that all violence against women and girls is unacceptable and undermines development.
  1. Key Messages
  • UNiTE to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls. Digital violence is real violence.
  • Investing in youth and young generation as agents of change.
  • Violence silences democracy: Section 135 must be enforced.
  • GBV in homes, schools, higher learning institution, workplaces, and communities must end. Investing in women’s safety is investing in Tanzania’s democracy and future.
  • End gender-based violence through collective action, ensuring people with disabilities are heard, seen, and safe.
  1. How Will You Orange the World This November 25th?

    November 25 marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the official launch of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign. This global campaign runs annually from November 25 to December 10 (Human Rights Day), highlighting the connection between ending gender-based violence and upholding human rights.

    We are pleased to invite your organization to join us in this year’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign.

    As part of our local commemoration, WiLDAF has organized an initiative called “Orange the Word.”

    We encourage your organization to participate in creative ways to show solidarity and raise awareness, such as:

    • Decorating your office with orange (the campaign color),
    • Encouraging staff to wear orange, and/or
    • Hosting a short seminar or discussion on ending gender-based violence in the workplace and community.
    • Orange Voices Challenge: A TikTok/Instagram Reels/WhatsApp video challenge where individuals record a short message (15–30 sec) answering: “Nitafanya nini kutokomeza ukatili?”

     

    Through such activities, your organization will be contributing to the global message of ending violence against women and girls.

    Don’t forget to Tag & share on social media using the hashtags:

    #16DaysOfActivism2025

    #OurVoicesOurSafety

    Together, let’s Orange the World and stand united against gender-based violence.

Add your organization’s campaign events here.

16 Days Of Activism Campaign 2024

Mdahalo wa Kitaifa Kuhusu Hali ya Ukatili wa Kijinsia Tanzania - 2024

Uzinduzi wa Jarida ya Kestoria Toleo la 2

16 Days Campaign 2024

16 Days Campaign 2023

This year campaign employs wide range of strategies to ensure maximum number of communities are impacted.

The kick of the campaign will be on 25th November in Dar es Salaam with the movement expanding to all regions across the country. The aim is to inspire every individual and institution to take part in this year’s campaign from local to National levels.

WiLDAF has utilized the commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism to promote social activism in ending GBV. The 2023 campaign brought immerse success across different levels.

16 Days Campaign 2022

This year campaign employs wide range of strategies to ensure maximum number of communities are impacted.

The kick of the campaign will be on 25th November in Dodoma with the movement expanding to all regions across the country. The aim is to inspire every individual and institution to take part in this year’s campaign from local to National levels.

16 Days Campaign 2021

Among other countries, Tanzania commemorated the 16 days and this year, and the theme was “Ewe Mwananchi, Komesha Ukatili wa Kijinsia Sasa,” meaning, ‘End violence against women now.” This year, the campaign provided an opportunity for reflection, re-strategizing and re-energizing on the need to join forces to end Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC).

16 Days Campaign 2020

WiLDAF and MKUKI Coalition propose this year campaign to address the following key issues; The alarming and increasing of sexual violence in Tanzania, the  issue  of  sexual  harassment  and  sextortion  especially  at  the  Higher  Learning  Institutions,  and Workplaces, the violence against women in the politics and election, the domestic violence which happens within families especially intimate partner violence, and the safety of women and girls in the digital space, music and film industries.

The campaign will contribute to the vision of NPA-VAWC, which envisions a Tanzania as a society where women and children enjoy their rights to an environment free from violence.

16 Days Campaign 2019

In the year 2019, the campaign aimed at initiating the debate and voices, to encourage every person’s responsibility, to fight the incidence of rape, sexual corruption and violence against sexual intimacy in the community. Also it intends to educate the community to provide safe environment to women and children because every person has the right to feel safe and be respected. This goal was to sensitize every person in his or her position regardless of age to take action against rape incidences, violence against sexual intimacy and sexual corruption.

16 Days Campaign 2018

On the year 2018; 16 days of activism campaign brought on board all duty bearers in order to take concrete steps toward bridging the public and private spheres and reaching institutions, communities, families, and individuals including children and reshaping perceptions of violence as well as gender roles between men and women. The campaign contributed towards the vision of NPA-VAWC, which envisions a Tanzania where women and children enjoy their rights to a violent free environment.

16 Days Campaign 2017

The 2017 global campaign marks 16 days of activism on gender based violence under overreaching theme in which it reflects the core principle of the transformative 2030 agenda for sustainable development goals. This theme reinforces the world’s commitment to a world free from violence for all women and girls around the world, while reaching the most underserved and marginalized group. Also, advocating for the enabling environment for policies and laws that are gender sensitive, development of shelters, having in place a Domestic Violence Act and Family Courts;