16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence: 25 November – 10 December 2021

IANSA’s theme for the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign this year is “Be the Change: Disarm Gender-Based Violence Now!” It aims to engage people around the world and disarm all forms of gender-based violence (GBV). Small arms and light weapons (SALW) are used to perpetrate or facilitate GBV. GBV involves the use and abuse of power and control over another person and is perpetrated against someone based on their gender identity, gender expression or perceived gender. “Be the Change” will help motivate people around the world to stand up to armed violence!

The 16 Days Campaign is also an opportunity to start preparing for the eighth Biennial Meeting of the States on the UNPoA (BMS8), a United Nations conference to review the progress made in the implementation of the Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons (UNPoA).

For this year’s 16 Days Campaign IANSA is focusing on the following:

• Raising awareness of the need to disarm domestic and gender-based violence;
• Breaking the link between (armed) violence and masculinity;
• Ensuring that women’s perspectives and experiences are taken fully into account in policies and programmes on SALW control and gun violence reduction;
• Amplifying children and youth voices to transform gender norms.

You can be the change to make a difference in your community and all over the world!