Campaigns

Since 1991 over 2000 organisations in 154 countries have participated in the 16 Days of Activism to Stop Violence Against Women campaign. The campaign runs from 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and White Ribbon Day) to 10 December (World Human Rights Day).

The theme for 2008 is Human Rights for Women - Human Rights for All . The campaign will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The principles of the declaration gave legitimacy to activists around the world who were calling for universal human rights. Human rights cannot be universal without human rights for women.

The 16 Days Campaign is used by individuals and groups to call for the elimination of all forms of violence against women. The campaign:

• raises awareness about gender-based violence as a human rights issue at the local, national, regional and international levels
• strengthens local work around violence against women
• establishes a clear link between local and international work to end violence against women
• provides a forum in which organisers can develop and share new and effective strategies
• creates tools to pressure governments to implement promises made to eliminate violence against women

New South Wales

In past years, Local Domestic and Family Violence Committees, women’s groups and the domestic violence sector have organised a wide range of local and state-wide activities in communities across New South Wales. These activities included public education campaigns, public awareness events, and seminars and workshops at schools, workplaces and community halls.

In 2008 the Violence Prevention Coordination Unit (VPCU) will provide Local Domestic and Family Violence Committees, with access to a small grants program to assist with activities during the 16 Days of Activism to Stop Violence Against Women campaign.

Further information on the grants program can be found here

The VPCU web site will also be a central information contact point and will host a calendar of local, regional and state-wide campaign activities.