The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence is an international campaign originating from the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute sponsored by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership in 1991. Participants chose the dates, November 25, International Day Against Violence Against Women, and December 10, International Human Rights Day, in order to symbolically link violence against women and human rights and to emphasize that such violence is a human rights violation. This 16-day period also highlights other significant dates, including November 29, International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, December 1, World AIDS Day, and December 6, the Anniversary of the Montreal Massacre.

• raising awareness at the local, national, regional and international levels
• strengthening local work
• linking local and global work
• providing a forum for dialogue and strategy-sharing
• pressuring governments to implement commitments made in national and international legal instruments
• demonstrating the solidarity of activists around the world

Each year the Center for Women's Global Leadership develops a theme for the international campaign in consultation with women's organizations around the world. CWGL also produces a Take Action Kit with more information on how to get involved in the campaign. To learn more, please visit the 16 Days Campaign website: www.cwgl.rutgers.edu/16days/home.html.

If you are planning an activity for this year's 16 Days Campaign, please make sure to send your event details (Organization, Date, Location, Description of Activities, Contact Information, and a Website - if applicable) to 16days@cwgl.rutgers.edu and you will be included in the Online International Calendar of Activities.