COFEM 16 Days of Activism Against GBV 2023

16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence

2023: Ending Violence Against Women and Girls through Radical Feminist Resourcing

Every year, women’s rights organizations, activists, collectives working in the field of violence against women join together across different countries and languages to commemorate 16 days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence. Starting on 25 November (the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) until 10 December (International Human Rights Day), the campaign was launched by The Centre for Women’s Global Leadership in 1991. It has since been adopted by several Community-Based Organisations, Communities, Activists, multilateral institutions, INGOs, NGOs, and more.

This year, adapted from the 2023 UNiTE campaign theme for 16 Days of Activism, COFEM’s 16 Days campaign seeks to explore different feminist investments to EVAWG, through the theme, End Violence Against Women and Girls through Radical Feminist Resourcing. Connecting to COFEM’s strategic priorities and emerging advocacy opportunities, the 2023 campaign seeks to highlight the state of EVAWG funding, positions investing in collective care, feminist research and movement-building as critical to efforts to EVAWG, and explores the range of resourcing practices, both financial and non-financial, that advance EVAWG efforts across the world. COFEM’s 2023 16 Days campaign consists of different activities including webinars, knowledge products, wellness practices and social media campaigns.

COFEM's 2023 Campaign Activities

Blog: Invest to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls, Exploring Funding for Women and Girls with Disabilities

Toolkit: Nourishing Feminist Souls, A Joyful Self-Care Toolkit

Marie-Simone, East & Southern Africa Regional Liaison, curated a Feminist Joy Toolkit as a celebration of the vibrant and uplifting spirit that fuels our journey towards a more inclusive and equal world. In the realm of activism, joy becomes a revolutionary act, and we're thrilled to share this toolkit filled with inspiration, affirmations, and activities that radiate the joy of feminism. Let's spread laughter, positivity, and the transformative power of a united, joyous community!

Policy Brief: Addressing Violence Against Women and Girls in the SWANA Region, A Call for Targeted Investments in Prevention

IG Live with GBV Prevention Network

We collaborated with the GBV Prevention Network to co-host an Instagram Live conversation on feminist solidarity, intersectionality and global investment to prevent and end gender-based violence and violence against women. Click on the image above to follow the conversation with @winfred_mugambwa and @_bampassy_ #VAWPrevention #16DaysOfActivism #SolidarityActionInvestment

Member Activities

Self-Care and Wellness Practice: Trauma-Informed Pilates

Pilates is a practice that strengthens our bodies' core muscles for improved flexibility, full-body coordination and strength. A trauma-informed approach to Pilates employs a holistic lens and a flexible teaching framework to create space for individual and group healing, address the physical manifestations of trauma, and build physical and emotional resilience. Sessions are open to participants of all fitness levels, and exercises are done standing and on floor mats, requiring a moderate level of mobility.

Social Media Toolkit

This toolkit is meant to assist COFEM allies and others working on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls in all their diversities to amplify the 16 days of Activism Campaign under the theme, End Violence Against Women and Girls through Radical Feminist Resourcing, by sharing the captions and graphics provided so that we have a more consolidated COFEMinist voice.

Get the message out by sharing this Comic Series Booklet on your personal accounts, using the hashtags #RadicalResourcing4EVAWG #16DaysOfActivism #VAWG #EVAWG #COFEM, share via email with people and organizations committed to promoting feminist-informed resourcing to end violence against women and girls, and contact us for a series of text and graphics that you can post online.

Member Hub Call: Resourcing Feminist Movements to End VAWG, 7 December

Our December 2023 Member Hub Call focused on the value-add of feminist movements, the challenges that they face, and how to best resource them. We were joined by panelists from feminist civil society and philanthropy, including the African Women’s Development Fund, Black Feminist Fund and the Global Alliance for Sustained Feminist Movements. Click on the image to explore this topic alongside feminist leaders working at the intersection of movements and philanthropy.

Regional Activities

COFEMinists around the world are taking part in regional activities for the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence this year. Check out your region below to join in:

Asia-Pacific
Webinar – Survivors Speak: Stories of Healing and Action (Sahiyo, Asian Women’s Shelter, and Silence Speaks)
Awareness-raising Campaign – A Safe Journey with Her (Thailand)
Webinar – Feminist Financing for Girls Leadership (more details to be shared later)

Southwest Asia and North Africa
Statement of Solidarity with the People of Palestine
Resources for Palestine (including COFEM statement)
Op-Ed SWANA Feminists Unite for the Liberation of Palestine
Amnesty International Petition: https://www.amnesty.org/en/petition/demand-a-ceasefire-by-all-parties-to-end-civilian-suffering/

Europe
Nationwide demonstration to combat violence against women (Mirabal Belgium platform, 26 November in Brussels)
Viva Vulva Fundraising Art Exhibition (Rifka Fehr, 25 November at Tredici e mezzo in Vienna, Austria)
Webinar: Interrogating the Links Between Climate and Gender-Based Violence (Abt Associates, 29 November 3 – 4:30pm GMT)
‘RUN LIKE A GIRL’ Running Campaign (Central European University, 25 November-10 December in Vienna, Austria)

Partnerships

We are excited to partner with Raising Voices on a consolidated social media campaign and jointly expand our audiences. We have also partnered with Politics4Her to support the development of the Addressing VAWG in the SWANA Region Policy Brief. For the Resourcing Feminist Movements webinar, we have partnered with representatives of the African Women’s Development Fund, Black Feminist Fund and the Global Alliance for Sustained Feminist Movements.

If you have ideas on how you would like to collaborate with other COFEMinists during this campaign, please reach out to Lucky and Iris.