16 Days of Activism 

Respectful Relationships – 16 days of activism against gender based violence

25th November marks the beginning of the United Nations’ annual ‘16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence’, which galvanises individuals, communities, and organisations to end gender inequalities and prevent gender-based violence. Coinciding with this global initiative is Respect Victoria’s annual ‘Respect Women: call it out (Respect Is)’ campaign, which asks us to help change the attitudes and behaviours that enable violence against women. These initiatives are a timely reminder that we all have a role in calling out the attitudes and behaviours that drive family violence, discrimination, stereotyping, and marginalisation. 

Family violence is one of the world’s most prevalent and pervasive human rights violations. In 2019, more than 243 million women and girls worldwide were subjected to sexual or physical violence by an intimate partner. We know in Victoria last year there was an increase in family violence reports to police. The pressures and isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic made it even more difficult for people experiencing violence to seek help. All Victorian government schools are now signed on to Respectful Relationships and taking a whole school approach to promoting and modelling respect, positive attitudes and behaviours, and addressing the attitudes and behaviours that can lead to family violence. You may also wish to explore and engage with these campaigns and help lead the cultural change in our community :

• Joining the ’16 Days of Activism’ campaign
• Understanding ‘there’s no excuse for abuse’
• Challenging disrespect by doing something because ‘doing nothing does harm’.

 Together, we have the chance to help lead this change.