• What is the 16 Days of Activism Against Violence Against Women?
• Don't Look Away - Act Against Abuse: 2008 Theme
• Opening Event: 22 November 2008: Rustdene Sports Stadium, Beaufort West

The "16 Days of Activism: No Violence Against Women" is a United Nations campaign. It takes place each year between 25 November (International Day of No Violence Against Women) and 10 December (International Human Rights Day).

Governments and organisations across the world, participate in this campaign to raise awareness of the negative impact that violence and abuse has on women and children. Abuse can be in the form of rape, child abuse, sexual harassment and emotional abuse. The aim is to rid society of this abuse permanently.

For more information read this concept document.

2008 Campaign Theme : "Dont Look Away - Act Against Abuse"

The Objectives of the Campaign are to:

• Increase the level of awareness amongst South Africans on the high incidence of violence committed against women and children, how it manifests itself within South African society and the negative impact on these vulnerable groups
• Challenge perpetrators to change their behaviour.
• Enhance and increase partnerships between government, the private sector, civil society, organised labour, sectoral groups, the faith based organisations, the media (electronic and print) and the diplomatic community in an effort to spread the message
• Align with events and themes in both the national and international programme, which focuses on matters relating to Women’s Human Rights
• Raise funds for NGOs that work within the sector, providing invaluable support to the victims and survivors of violence;
• Communicate through the most effective and appropriate channels aiming to reach the maximum number of people across the country, articularly women and children residing in rural areas;
• Engage actively (re-educate, resocialise) with men and boys in the discourse on combating violence in our homes, our communities and in the workplace; and
• Highlight the stories of survivors of gender-based violence and the impact that the campaign has had on their lives.
• Strengthen relationships beyond the South African borders around the elimination of violence against women and children;
• Create awareness of the link between HIV/AIDS and gender-based violence.

Opening Event