Currents Winter 2021 Vol 37, No. 3 | Page 29

16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence

Memorial Drive confronts domestic violence head on ...

16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence

The color orange represents a brighter future — free from violence against women and girls — and is used as a unifying theme running through this annual global campaign . Commencing on November 25 , the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women , and ending on December 10 , Human Rights Day , this year marks its thirtieth anniversary . It is a call to increase awareness , stimulate advocacy , and create opportunities for discussions about challenges and solutions to end violence against women and girls .
Gender-based violence has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic due to exacerbation of the risk factors for gender-based violence ( e . g ., unemployment and poverty ) and the reinforcement of gender stereotypes and harmful social norms . It has been estimated that 11 million girls may not return to school because of COVID-19 , thereby increasing their risk of a child marriage . The economic fallout is expected to push 47 million more women and girls into extreme poverty in 2021 , reversing decades of progress and perpetuating structural inequalities that reinforce violence .*
We need to push the agenda forward now ! To raise awareness of the campaign , several iconic buildings were lit up in orange throughout Hamburg on Nov 25 in a campaign by the six Zonta Clubs ** in the city to “ Sag Nein !” to violence against women and girls .
* Data source : https :// www . unwomen . org / sites / default / files / 2021-11 / UNiTE-campaign-2021-concept-note-en . pdf
Photo : @ Ruth Lüth representing the ** Zonta Clubs Hamburg , Hamburg-Alster , Hamburg-Elbufer , Hamburg Hamburg Hanse , Hamburg Hafen , and the Golden-Z Club of Hamburg-Hanse www . awchamburg . org 29