16 Days Events

16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is a global campaign dedicated to raising awareness about the impact of violence, particularly on women. The campaign starts 25 November, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and concludes 10 December, Human Rights Day. These dates were chosen in order to symbolically link violence against women with human rights issues. In particular, this campaign emphasises the fact that violence, in any form, is a violation of human rights.

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence is a central focus for WiLDAF advocacy work, policy formulation and social change in the community.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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;