16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign
About the campaign
Safe and Equal is continuing to collaborate with Respect Victoria for the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence in 2023. Following positive reception for the campaign messaging in previous years, this year’s theme will be “Respect Is…”
The United Nation’s international campaign 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, takes place each year from 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) until 10 December (International Human Rights Day).
Check out Respect Victoria’s website for more information on the campaign.
Check out MAV’s website for more information on the campaigns from previous years.
To support the delivery of the 16 Days of Activism Grassroots Initiative, Respect Victoria has funded Safe and Equal to connect and build the capacity of local councils, Statewide Women’s Health Services and Women’s Health Services Prevention Partnerships across Victoria.
Safe and Equal is hosting a range of capacity-building activities for anyone interested in getting involved in the campaign, including a webinar and workshop series to support 16 Days campaign engagement, a fortnightly bulletin, a 16 Days helpdesk for targeted advice and an events calendar to connect campaigns happening across the regions.
How to get involved
You can help generate conversations about gender equality and respect by organising events and activities during the 16 Days such as:
- posting on social media
- preparing podcasts,
- hosting webinars and virtual panel discussions
- participating in the Walk Against Family Violence
- developing artwork and online art exhibitions
- delivering online training sessions
- organising virtual book clubs and StoryTime in conjunction with libraries
- organising street art, banners, posters and lighting up buildings in orange
Upcoming events
Community events
Add your organisation’s campaign events to our Community Calendar here.
Need support with your event planning? Check out the Event Planning Guide here.
Campaign support events
In 2023, Safe and Equal and Respect Victoria are hosting an online webinar and workshop series to support organisations and practitioners with their 16 Days of Activism campaign planning and activities.
Throughout the month of October, these events will offer opportunities to meet other 16 Days campaigners, help build capability in accessible and inclusive digital communications, and training on how to integrate a values-based messaging approach into your campaign.
16 Days of Activism Kick Off Workshop
Wednesday 4 October 2023, 11.30 am – 1.30 pm
This webinar gave 16 Days of Activism campaigners an opportunity to come together and hear about how they can get involved and where to go for more information.
Participants heard from Respect Victoria and Safe and Equal about this year’s grassroots initiative. This recording also includes lessons from 2022 including tips for engagement with social media, and guides you on how to access resources and support leading up to the 16 Days of Activism.
16 Days of Activism: Introduction to Values Based Messaging and Intersectional Social Justice for Campaigns
Wednesday 18 October 2023, 10 am – 12pm
Common Cause Values & Frames training by Intertwine draws on decades of social psychology to connect the dots between the evidence you already know and the language and messaging structure you need to create powerful, transformative and persuasive communications.
Led by longtime communications strategist Ro Bersten, this webinar covers the theory and implications of values research, identity, a brief intro to intersectionality, the concept of framing, and the latest research and suggested wording for prevention messaging that works.
Partner
resources
The following resources are available from a range of organisations in Victoria, working in primary prevention and family violence that may support organisations in their campaigns around the 16 Days of Activism
Women’s Health in the North – Communications Guidelines for Prevention Violence against Women with accompanying Webinar and Slide deck
Women’s Health in the South East and Common Cause Australia – 16 Days of Activism and Values-Based Messaging 2020 (YouTube webinar recording)
VicHealth – Framing Masculinity – Message guide (PDF – 267KB)
GenWest – Consent, Empowerment and Respect Campaign
Women’s Health Victoria – Gender equality in advertising and communications: guidelines for local government
Southern Melbourne Primary Care Partnership – Framing age message guide
Our Watch – Key messages Respect and Equality in TAFE
Together for Equality and Respect – 16 Days Social Media Toolkit
Women’s Health in the North – Social media tiles in community languages (Arabic, Greek, Tamil and Urdu)
Our Watch – Doing nothing does harm
GenVic – Online Active Bystander Project toolkit and videos
Our Watch – Bystander research snapshot report
Partners in Prevention Seminar – Supporting bystander action to prevent violence against women (YouTube)
VicHealth – Take Action: Empowering bystanders to act on sexist and sexually harassing behaviours
Gen Vic – Responding to Harassment on Social Media
Gen Vic – Together We’re Stronger
Djirra – Marli’s Story: Trust your Gut
Djirra – Deadly Duos
Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria, Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health and InTouch Multicultural Centre against Family Violence – Multilingual resources promoting respect within migrant and refugee communities
Women’s Health Loddon Mallee – 16 Days of Activism Resource Pack 2020
Women’s Health Goulburn North East - 16 Days of Activism 2020 regional calendar of events, workplace and organisational resources and social media toolkit
Women’s Health in the North – 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign Toolkit 2019 (PDF – 705KB)
Women’s Health in the South East – 16 Days of Activism Social Media Toolkit
Women’s Health in the North – 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence social media tiles
Our Watch – Changing the Landscape
The Line – https://www.theline.org.au/
Because Why? – https://www.becausewhy.org.au/
Women’s Health Loddon Mallee – 16 Days of Activism Toolkit 2023 (whlm.org.au)
Engagement across Victorian communities is critical to expanding the conversation and building momentum to prevent family violence and all forms of violence against women, before it occurs.
Tania Farha
CEO, Safe and Equal
Campaign Webinars
Safe and Equal's Primary Prevention Unit facilitated a webinar series is for community organisations and councils that are planning to get involved in this year's initiative.
Planning your 16 Days of Activism Campaign
Our first webinar provided participants with practical advice on how to run a successful campaign, including tips on managing inclusion and accessibility, and how to engage local leaders in discussions about primary prevention of family and gender-based violence.
Online Campaigns and Managing Resistance
Our second webinar held on Wednesday 3 November 2:00 – 3:30 pm, dives into how you can run an engaging 16 Days campaign in the online environment and prepare you to respond to different forms of resistance.
Learning from the 16 Days of Activism
Our third event provided participating organisations with the opportunity to celebrate and reflect on the 16 Days, connect with one another, share how their organisation engaged with the campaign and provide feedback for informing future campaigns.
Case studies
A wide range of councils and community organisations across metropolitan, rural and regional Victoria are participating in this years' 16 Days campaign.
See below for some examples of innovative and inspired activities and events that participants have planned for promoting the campaign and engaging their communities in preventing and ending gendered violence.
The Network is encouraging locals to walk at least 16 K’s in 16 Days to raise awareness of, and support for, older victim-survivors of family violence. Participants are encouraged to log their distance on a whole-of-community pedometer available on the Respecting Seniors website. Selfie frames will be installed along popular walking routes and digital versions will be available for download on the Respecting Seniors Network website.
For more information, visit the campaign website, #16Ksin16Days: https://respectingseniorsnetwork.org.au/16ks-in-16-days/
The first to feature is The Geelong Women’s Social Action Network, who have put together The Clothesline Project. This project encourages participants to get creative at home and make or use clothing, tea towels, scarves or other old items they may have, to tell stories or share statements about stopping violence against women; advocating for women’s rights; promoting awareness around safety in public and in private; ending sexual assault; and preventing all forms of gendered and family violence.
The Clothesline Project is focused on promoting greater awareness of the impact of violence and sexual assault and helping break the silence.
If COVID-19 restrictions allow, the Geelong Women’s Social Action Network are aiming to hold a public art installation of submissions made to the Clothesline Project – see here for ideas.
Register your interest to take part in the Clothesline Project 2021 online.
Good Samaritan Inn will run a day of small workshops at a local Catholic boys’ school to educate students on the gendered drivers of family violence. Following the workshop, each participant will be invited to contribute a message of advocacy and hope to a larger banner that will be displayed to the public in Preston.
Local community members will be able to walk by and read messages created by staff and students, encouraging broader conversations and community engagement with respectful relationships.
Located in the northern suburbs of Melbourne, Good Samaritan Inn assists women and children who have experienced family violence and homelessness by providing short-term crisis accommodation and support.
Hosted by comedian and author Nelly Thomas, Exploring Gender in the Early Years will provide attendees an opportunity to develop their understandings of gender stereotypes at home, and provide strategies to challenge these.
The Greater Shepparton Family Violence Prevention Network is comprised of specialist family violence services, youth and family services, education, police, local council and community services. The grant provided by DV Vic/DVRCV and Respect Victoria allowed the committee to engage Nelly to deliver the session and provide her expertise.
This event is open to both professionals and community members, who have different but very important roles in undertaking this work.
Register to attend Exploring Gender in the Early Years via Eventbrite.