International Day to End Violence Against Women 2017

November 25 marks International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Today also marks the beginning of UN Women‘s #16days of activism campaign which aims to galvanize action to end violence against women and girls around the world.

Beginning today, WWDA will be joining the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign to encourage action and investment in the elimination of all form of violence against all women. We will be calling specifically on the Australian Government to enact a range of recommendations to end the scourge of violence against women and girls with disability.

For more info on the 16days campaign, visit: http://www.unwomen.org/…/en…/take-action/16-days-of-activism

Join the conversation using the #16days hashtag on Facebook and Twitter.

WWDA 16 Days Campaign 2017

 A monochrome photo of two women shouting into megaphones and pointing a finger toward the camera. There is an orange band across the top and bottom of the graphic. Text on the two bands reads: Speak out #16Days and 16 ways to end gender based violence. The WWDA logo is in the bottom left.

DAY 1

One way everyone can help to end violence against women is to continue speaking up and speaking out about violence in all its forms. Everyone has the right to live free of violence.

For more info on the 16days campaign, visit: http://www.unwomen.org/…/en…/take-action/16-days-of-activism

Violence against women and girls remains one of the most widespread, persistent and devastating human rights violations in our world today. Women and girls with disability continue to disproportionately experience violence across a range of settings.
 A monochrome photo of a young woman sitting in a motorised wheelchair. She wears a leather jacket and holds a notebook in her hand. There is an orange band across the top and bottom of the graphic. Text on the two bands reads: Learn more about your rights. #16Days and 16 ways to end gender based violence. The WWDA logo is in the bottom left.

DAY 2

Learning about our human rights is an important way that everyone can contribute to addressing and calling out gendered violence.WWDA has developed a range of resources to support women and girls with disability learn more about, and act on, their rights. Visit https://wwda.org.au/toolkit/ or http://youth.wwda.org.au/workbook/ for more info!

If you are currently experiencing violence, help is available. 1800RESPECT is the national violence counselling service. Call 1800 737 732 or visit https://www.1800respect.org.au.

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UN Women‘s #16days of activism campaign aims to galvanize action to end violence against women and girls around the world.
 A monochrome photo of two women embracing and smiling. There is an orange band across the top and bottom of the graphic. Text on the two bands reads: Support your friends and family. #16Days and 16 ways to end gender based violence. The WWDA logo is in the bottom left.

DAY 3

Noticing, supporting and encouraging our friends and family who have, or may be experiencing violence, is a simple way we can all contribute to addressing gender based violence.

If you, or someone you know is experiencing violence, help is available. 1800RESPECT is the national violence counseling service. Call 1800 737 732 or visit https://www.1800respect.org.au

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UN Women’s #16days of activism campaign aims to galvanize action to end violence against women and girls around the world.
 A monochrome photo of a woman with disability looking toward the camera and raising her hand up. There is a blue band across the top, and orange band across the bottom of the graphic. Text on the two bands reads: Include women and girls with disability. #16Days and 16 ways to end gender based violence. The WWDA logo is in the bottom left.

DAY 4

Women and girls with disability are disproportionately affected by violence. We must be meaningfully and authentically included in all efforts to end gender based violence.

If you, or someone you know is experiencing violence, help is available. 1800RESPECT is the national violence counseling service. Call 1800 737 732 or visit https://www.1800respect.org.au

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UN Women’s #16days of activism campaign aims to galvanize action to end violence against women and girls around the world.
 A photo of the United Nations General Assembly in session. Delegates are arranged in a semi-circle fronted by a raised round stage. There is a purple band across the top, and orange band across the bottom of the graphic. Text on the two bands reads: Demand accountability. #16Days and 16 ways to end gender based violence. The WWDA logo is in the bottom left.

DAY 5

International human rights treaties and reviews can hold States to account for their actions and inaction on issues like gender based violence. Meaningfully engaging with these processes means genuinely listening to, and acting on human rights bodies’ recommendations for change.

Contact and encourage your local Councillors, MPs and Senators to act on UN recommendations. We’ve included some sample letters and tips in our Human Rights Toolkit, available at: https://wwda.org.au/papers/toolkit/download/

For detail on recent UN recommendations, visit: http://dpoa.org.au/iccpr-2017-report/

UN Women‘s #16days of activism campaign aims to galvanize action to end violence against women and girls around the world.

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If you, or someone you know is experiencing violence, help is available. 1800RESPECT is the national violence counselling service. Call 1800 737 732 or visit https://www.1800respect.org.au
 A photo of a young woman with disability sitting in a wheelchair. There is a green band across the top, and orange band across the bottom of the graphic. Text on the two bands reads: Promote rights. #16Days and 16 ways to end gender based violence. The WWDA logo is in the bottom left.

DAY 6

@UN Women’s #16days of activism campaign aims to galvanize action to end violence against women and girls around the world.

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If you, or someone you know is experiencing violence, help is available. @1800RESPECT is the national violence counselling service. Call 1800 737 732 or visit https://www.1800respect.org.au

Everyone can contribute to ending gender based violence by promoting and talking about the human rights of all people, including women and girls with disability.

Women and girls with disability face a range of threats to their rights, including their sexual and reproductive rights. Without action by Government, policy makers, and communities, violations of these rights will continue.

WWDA and @WWDA Youth have prepared a range of position statements on key human rights issues:
https://wwda.org.au/papers/toolkit/position-statements/
http://youth.wwda.org.au/workbook/position-statements/
 A close up photo of an Aboriginal woman's face. She is looking off camera. There is a red band across the top, and orange band across the bottom of the graphic. Text on the two bands reads: End discrimination. #16Days and 16 ways to end gender based violence. The WWDA logo is in the bottom left.

DAY 7

Women and girls with disability continue to be discriminated against in many areas of their lives. Discrimination is both a cause and form of violence against women.

As a signatory to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), Australia has committed to eliminating discrimination against women.

You can help by getting involved in campaigns, sharing your experiences and encouraging Governments to ensure women and girls with disability have equal enjoyment of their human rights, including access to services and supports, on an equal basis with others.

UN Women‘s #16days of activism campaign aims to galvanize action to end violence against women and girls around the world.

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If you, or someone you know is experiencing violence, help is available. 1800RESPECT is the national violence counselling service. Call 1800 737 732 or visit https://www.1800respect.org.au

DAY 8

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 A photo of a woman with an intellectual disability sitting in a chair and laughing. There is a turquoise band across the top, and orange band across the bottom of the graphic. Text on the two bands reads: Celebrate & remember. #16Days and 16 ways to end gender based violence. The WWDA logo is in the bottom left.

DAY 9

International Day of People with Disability – Australia
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If you, or someone you know is experiencing violence, help is available. 1800RESPECT is the national violence counselling service. Call 1800 737 732 or visit https://www.1800respect.org.auToday is International Day of People with Disability.

It is a day to celebrate the change that people with disability around the world have brought about, and to remember the many people with disability over the years who have paved the way for us to continue our fight for rights, including our fundamental right to live free of all forms of violence.

UN Women‘s #16days of activism campaign aims to galvanize action to end violence against women and girls around the world.
 A journal, notebook, phone and pencils arranged on a wooden desk. There is a magenta band across the top, and orange band across the bottom of the graphic. Text on the two bands reads: Fund research & data collection. #16Days and 16 ways to end gender based violence. The WWDA logo is in the bottom left.

DAY 10

Ending gender based violence in Australia requires quality research into the issues and nationally consistent data collection that can accurately describe the rates and forms of violence that women and girls with disability experience.

Without urgent funding for research and data collection, led by women and girls with disability, many of our experiences of violence and abuse will continue to go unnoticed and unaddressed.

UN Women‘s #16days of activism campaign aims to galvanize action to end violence against women and girls around the world.

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If you, or someone you know is experiencing violence, help is available. 1800RESPECT is the national violence counselling service. Call 1800 737 732 or visit https://www.1800respect.org.au
 A group of women sit in a circle. Two women in the foreground embrace to comfort each other. There is an earth coloured band across the top, and orange band across the bottom of the graphic. Text on the two bands reads: Accessible support services. #16Days and 16 ways to end gender based violence. The WWDA logo is in the bottom left.

DAY 11

Women and girls with disability are disproportionately affected by violence, and yet many violence services remain inaccessible.

Ensuring that violence prevention and response services are fully accessible and responsive to the issues and forms of violence women and girls with disability experience, must be a priority of Government and the violence sector.

UN Women‘s #16days of activism campaign aims to galvanize action to end violence against women and girls around the world.

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If you, or someone you know is experiencing violence, help is available. 1800RESPECT is the national violence counselling service. Call 1800 737 732 or visit https://www.1800respect.org.au
 A man and a woman sit on a couch. They are speaking using sign language. There is a light orange coloured band across the top, and orange band across the bottom of the graphic. Text on the two bands reads: Education. #16Days and 16 ways to end gender based violence. The WWDA logo is in the bottom left.

DAY 12

Accessible education and resources are fundamental to addressing and ending gender based violence. Understanding what constitutes violence, and the particular forms of violence that women and girls with disability experience, remains a significant gap.

Governments must urgently prioritise funding for accessible education and development of resources by people with disability, for people with disability.

UN Women‘s #16days of activism campaign aims to galvanize action to end violence against women and girls around the world.

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If you, or someone you know is experiencing violence, help is available. 1800RESPECT is the national violence counselling service. Call 1800 737 732 or visit https://www.1800respect.org.au
 A young girl looks intently at the camera with a serious expression. She has Down Syndrome. There is a dark blue band across the top, and orange band across the bottom of the graphic. Text on the two bands reads: Legislate for human rights. #16Days and 16 ways to end gender based violence. The WWDA logo is in the bottom left.

DAY 13

Australia remains the only Western democracy without a national Human Rights Act or bill of rights, despite multiple recommendations from United Nations treaty bodies.Ending and preventing gender based violence requires strong, consistent and enforceable human rights legislation, in additions to resources and programs that can effectively address the issues.

UN Women‘s #16days of activism campaign aims to galvanize action to end violence against women and girls around the world.

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If you, or someone you know is experiencing violence, help is available. 1800RESPECT is the national violence counselling service. Call 1800 737 732 or visit https://www.1800respect.org.au
 A judges gavel on a wooden desk next to a book. An Australian flag is in the background. There is a light green band across the top, and orange band across the bottom of the graphic. Text on the two bands reads: Accountability. #16Days and 16 ways to end gender based violence. The WWDA logo is in the bottom left.

DAY 14

Ending gender based violence requires holding perpetrators of violence to account, and addressing the systems, laws and policies that maintain the conditions and settings in which violence occurs.

UN Women‘s #16days of activism campaign aims to galvanize action to end violence against women and girls around the world.

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If you, or someone you know is experiencing violence, help is available. 1800RESPECT is the national violence counselling service. Call 1800 737 732 or visit https://www.1800respect.org.au

A pile of Australian currency including coins and 20, 100 and 50-dollar polymer notes laid out on a white background. There is a magenta band across the top, and orange band across the bottom of the graphic. Text on the two bands reads: Economic Security. #16Days and 16 ways to end gender based violence. The WWDA logo is in the bottom left.

DAY 15

Supporting the economic security of women and girls with disability is vital to ending gender based violence. Limited financial and social resources compound the risk and effects of violence.

UN Women‘s #16days of activism campaign aims to galvanize action to end violence against women and girls around the world.

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If you, or someone you know is experiencing violence, help is available. 1800RESPECT is the national violence counselling service. Call 1800 737 732 or visit https://www.1800respect.org.au
 A bronze statue of Themis, goddess of justice. She holds a set of balancing scales outstretched. There is a pink coloured band across the top, and orange band across the bottom of the graphic. Text on the two bands reads: Justice. #16Days and 16 ways to end gender based violence. The WWDA logo is in the bottom left.

DAY 16

Women and girls with disability have a fundamental right to access justice and to be treated as equal before the law. Often women and girls who experience violence are not believed, and have difficulty accessing support when engaging with the justice system.

UN Women‘s #16days of activism campaign aims to galvanize action to end violence against women and girls around the world.

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If you, or someone you know is experiencing violence, help is available. 1800RESPECT is the national violence counselling service. Call 1800 737 732 or visit https://www.1800respect.org.au
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