16 days activism to end Gender Based Violence -By Radio Sampark

Bhubaneswar(11/12/2024): The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is international civil society led campaign.

It commences on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and ends on 10 December, Human Rights Day, highlighting that violence against women is the most pervasive breach of human rights worldwide.

Globally, an estimated 736 million women—nearly one in three— have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner, non-partner sexual violence, or both at least once in their lives.

In the past year alone, 1 in 8 women and girls aged 15-49 has faced intimate partner violence.

The campaign was launched by Women's Global Leadership Institute in 1991, and has since mobilized individuals and organizations, including the United Nations and partners worldwide to campaign for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls (VAWG). Radio Sampark 89.6, an initiative of People’s Cultural Centre (PECUC), a leading voluntary organization in Odisha, organized 16-day activism campaign in Nischinitakoili, Mahanga block of Cuttack in collaboration with SMART, to raise awareness about gender-based violence.

The campaign started on 25th Nov and ended on 10th Dec 2024.

This initiative aimed to sensitize communities about the prevalence and impact of violence and promote collective action for prevention.

The campaign featured diverse activities, including awareness rallies, community meetings, creative messaging through rangoli art and songs, poem, slogan, narrowcast sessions in schools & colleges, one act play and other innovative approaches to engage community in these activities.

This campaign reached to around 50000 people. These efforts emphasized the importance of building a safe and equitable society for all, encouraging active participation from community members to challenge and eliminate gender-based violence in their everyday lives.

The campaign was facilitated by Sushree Shailani Suman, Gayatri Tripathy, Subhalaxmi Panda , Jagatmohini Dash and Bhabani Sankar Patra of Community Radio Station -Radio Sampark.