WAGGGS
16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence
16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is a global campaign calling for an end to violence against women and girls. It takes place every year and begins on the 25th November, the International Day of the Elimination of Violence Against Women and finishes on Human Rights Day, the 10th of December.
Each year, WAGGGS and the Stop the Violence campaign invites the Movement to join an awareness-raising campaign on a certain thematic area. This year we have chosen the theme of She Surfs Freedom.
Through the power of innovation, each of us can travel across many miles within seconds. Connection made possible by the internet. Ingenuity, possibility and freedom.
All at our fingertips, the benefits of digital progress are daily met for learning, work and fun, and yet, we are also aware of the darker side of technology. Its vast negative impact and influence on the lives of girls and young women worldwide.
That's why this year, we're focussing on defending and creating digital spaces of equality as our 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence campaign. It takes place from the 25th of November until the 10th of December, and we will present our findings at CSW67. Connecting with the global CSW theme of 'Innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.'
Our 2022 campaign centres on lived experience, provides education and information, explores academic research, and shares helpful resources. We're exploring the reality for girls online and, together, developing solutions that move us closer to a safe digital life for all: free of harassment and violence.
Will you join and power the wave as 1 in 8.9 million so that #SheSurfsFreedom?
With Girl Guides, Girl Scouts and girls at the forefront and centre, so that #SheSurfsFreedom, we will be asking girls worldwide to share their experiences in a short survey. The results of this research will then be analysed and solutions co-developed with the Global Advocacy Champions, and results will be presented at the UN Commission on the Status of Women in March.
Please share the survey and encourage your regions, units and friends to participate. Open to all girls and young women.
How can YOU take and inspire action?
LET'S GET SOCIAL!
Take Part: Follow @WagggsWorld across our social channels, learn, take part by voting in our quizzes and share knowledge about digital violence, what it is, plus the terms used.
Our campaign focuses on digital violence; however, we will be building on this and sharing stories and content from *YOU*, our Member Organisations and partners on the broader topic and reality of gender-based violence. We want to hear from you! How are you Oranging the world in 2022 - Let us know what matters to you and your actions.
Remember to use the hashtags #SheSurfsFreedom, #StopTheViolence and #16Days, plus tag @WagggsWorld and any local partners or allies in the space.
Commit to Action: It takes 5
We only know what we know, and by sharing the information, facts and signs of online violence, we are keeping each other safer and a step closer to digital safety and freedom.
With 50% of girls worldwide in 2020 stating that they experience more online harassment than street harassment, we will not stay silent.
Share and tag 5 friends who need to be in the know. It takes 60 seconds to join the wave, protect and say no to online gender-based violence.
Communications Support
- Download: Use our SheSurfsFreedom campaign communications assets, templates and messages within your organisation, unit/pack, and personal social and media channels. We can't wait to have this digital conversation with you. Watch out for these in the coming month. Release date November 2022. And will be found here.
- Research: SheSurfsFreedom - Where are we now?
The online world plays an ever-increasing role in the lives of girls and young women; As they grow, discover and navigate their way into adulthood and how to be in the world. It's a space for education, entertainment, inspiration, discovery, friendship and feeling like you belong; the online world should be a place of creativity, connection and freedom!
We know, however, that there are increasing risks, with shocking stats and data on the harm, influence, and manipulation experienced online before us.
Noting that 57 per cent of girls and 48 per cent of boys have experienced at least one online sexual harm, some regions – like North America, Australasia, and Western Europe – are even higher.
39% of 14-year-olds report having seen porn, with about one-third of young people saying they had seen it for the first time at age 12 or younger.
Believing that equal access to the digital space is vital to achieving gender equality and for girls to reach their fullest potential, we are coming together to understand the reality and demand change.
With Girl Guides, Girl Scouts and girls at the forefront and centre, so that #SheSurfsFreedom, we will be asking girls worldwide to share their experiences in a short survey. The results of this research will then be analysed and solutions co-developed with the Global Advocacy Champions, and results will be presented at the UN Commission on the Status of Women in March.
Please share the survey and encourage your regions, units and friends to participate. Open to all girls and young women.
Or Scan the QR code here
The different campaign elements
LET'S TAKE ACTION- ACTIVITY PACK
Download, share and use the activity pack to run activities and sessions within your Member Organization. Fun, accessible, and creating Brave Space.
Creating Brave Spaces for girls around the world is an important space to share ideas, stories and thoughts on the experience and prevalence of gender-based violence (GBV). Facilitated in both physical and digital events, we witness, listen and commit to change for equal freedom online. Learn about creating a Brave Space in the Activity Pack.
THE COMMUNICATIONS ASSETS
We have prepared sample social media posts and sample social media graphics to help support your association to take part: From ‘oranging’ your digital spaces raising awareness, to promoting the activity pack; sharing content inspiring action to imagining a world free of gender based violence.
ACTIVISM YOUR WAY
Proud to collaborate and stand in solidarity with our global partners, friends and allies from Malala Fund. Listen to why and how women are taking action worldwide to end Gender-based Violence. Together we will be the change.
CONSENT
Please seek consent before sharing images with us. By sharing photos with us, you consent for these images to be shared externally, on social media and our website. Make sure girls are not taking pictures of each other and sharing them on social media or other channels without permission.
If you have any questions, please get in touch with the Stop the Violence team at the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts via email: stoptheviolence@wagggs.org
WAGGGS SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS
Previous WAGGGS Campaigns
- 2021: #HerStoryIsOurStory we created Brave Spaces for girls around the world to share their voice and stories on the experience, prevalence and thoughts of gender-based violence
- 2020: #notHERfault we stood against victim blaming, the shaming of girls and women who have been made to feel like they are responsible for the violence inflicted on them.
- 2019: #OurStreetsToo #ImHereForHer we stood in solidarity with girls and women who experience harassment in the streets
- 2018: #OurStreetsToo we called on governments around the world to stop street harassment
- 2017: #GirlsAreUnsafe identified where girls felt the most unsafe by asking them to draw these places.
- 2016: #16 Ways in #16Days shared stories and small personal steps everyone can take.
- 2015: For Girls are valuable we asked girls to make noise about how girls aren’t valued.
- 2014: For 16 Days. 16 Voices. we delivered a Stop the Violence Facilitators Training.
- 2013: Bust the Myths: 16 Myths for 16 Days, showcased a harmful belief or myth on along with the reality.
- 2012: From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World: Creating Safe Spaces asked groups to identify a space to make free from violence.
Previous 16 Days resources are available here.