From 16 to 365 - The Importance of Activism Against GBV All Year Round

In the 365 days making up 2021, 49% of Ugandan women reported being involved in online harassment. In the 365 days making up 2022, an estimated 48 800 women and girls were victims of femicide worldwide. In the 365 days making up 2023, Lesotho, Togo and Uzbekistan all enacted legislation protecting women against domestic violence. 

Though 16 days may seem like a significant amount of time to dedicate to a single cause, it is only 4% of 365, or 4% of a year’s story. As illustrated by the figures above, a lot can happen in a year’s time, in terms of both progress and violence, and 16 days is not nearly enough time to tell all these stories. In order to see progress and justice for women, gender-based violence cannot afford to fade from the spotlight for the other 349 days of the year.

We can contribute to the movement against GBV, 365 days a year, in a number of ways. Simply understanding the magnitude of the issue, what consent means, and listening to the stories of survivors, the movement is kept alive through the act of speech. Yet, to achieve success in social movements, speech must also be coupled with action. Women’s organizations offer essential services to survivors of gender-based violence, such as shelter, counseling, legal assistance and hotlines. They also collect valuable data that can be used by policymakers and activists to develop new policies addressing gender-based violence. Despite their important role, these organizations are often poorly funded. Donating to or volunteering for a local women’s shelter, such as the ones listed below, can help to guide broader systemic change. 

Gender-based violence is not an easy subject to talk about, especially for past victims and survivors, but, if our society stops talking about it, the story goes untold, and the violence goes uncondemned. These 16 days of activism are not an opportunity to remind us why gender-based violence is important, but rather, an opportunity to remind us why its importance cannot be forgotten.

Women’s organizations in the GTA:

• YMCA Women’s Shelter
• Red Door Family Shelter
• Sistering
• Nellie’s