This month we celebrate the 16 Days Campaign, a global movement to show solidarity and act to end violence against women and girls around the world. Starting on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10 December, Human Rights Day, this year’s theme is “Leave No One Behind: End Violence against Women and Girls.
The white ribbon has become synonymous to the annual 16-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women. As a response to the École Polytechnique massacre of female students in 1989, pro-feminist men created the movement to raise awareness about ale violence agansit women, with the ribbon symbolizing “the idea of men giving up their arms.”
To advocate the 16 Days Campaign and the White Ribbon Campaign, Women Peacemakers has invited participants to share their experiences and words of support from Day 1 to Day 16 on the Facebook Page, Unite Cambodia to End Violence Against Women, with hashtags #16DaysToEVAW #LeaveNoOneBehind #UniteCambodiaEVAW #១៦ថ្ងៃដើម្បីបញ្ឈប់ហិង្សាលើស្រ្តី
From December 9 – 11, WPM hosted the Gender and Peace Leadership Camp, and asked camp participants to to reflect on these campaigns and write down a message they would like to share with the world.
Four of our camp participants shared their thoughts about why gender equality is important and why they support ending gender-based violence. Click the video to hear their reflection and perspective!
