16 Days of Activism

16 Days of Activism

The rate of gender based violence in Victoria is unacceptably high.  Violence against women is the leading contributor to death, disability and ill health in Australian women aged 15 to 44.  On average, one woman is killed every week by someone known to them.

We have the opportunity to change this story for future generations as young people become an important focus for preventing gender based violence.  To this end, secondary schools across the southwest region will be running a shared campaign to promote 16 Days of Activism.

16 Days of Activism against gender based violence is an annual campaign that kicks off on 25th November, the International Day for Elimination of Violence against women, and runs for 16 days until 10th December, Human Rights Day.  This event has been running since 1991 and is co-ordinated each year by the Centre for Women’s Global Leadership.

In partnership with Women’s Health and Wellbeing Barwon South West, schools in the south west will be presenting a shared project called ‘Respectful Schools: It starts here’.  Student led groups will interview and film local women on a range of topics.  Lunchtime activities will be held and promotional resources will be circulated to accompany the campaign.  There will be a visual display within the school grounds depicting 52 orange women, representing the average annual number of women killed in Australia by a current or former partner.  These activities will reinforce the work already in place in schools to promote respectful relationships.

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