GBV, particularly violence against women and girls, is the most pervasive form of human rights violations and prevents women and girls from reaching their full potential. It is an obstacle to women living dignified lives, free from fear.
For #16Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, Women for Women International (WfWI) wants you to take a stand against GBV. Here are 3 things YOU can do to help end GBV and help women and girls realize their full potential.
1. Educate yourself and others about GBV
The first line of prevention is education. Educating yourself and your friends about what GBV is, how it happens and, how to prevent it are the first steps to ending GBV. You can read blogs like this one that gives a broad definition of the topic or this one that delves into how sexualized violence against women is being addressed in conflict affected countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo.
2. Use your voice on social media to bring awareness to GBV
Using social media can help you connect to others outside your normal social circles. Use your Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and other platforms to call for an end to GBV. Join others in the #16Days conversation to bring awareness to what GBV looks like around the world and how members of the social media universe can take steps to end GBV globally.
Here are some posts you can use during #16Days to call for an end to GBV:
Join me & @WomenforWomen during #16days to end #GBV! Educate, advocate & donate for a change. Find out how I'm making a difference here --> http://bit.ly/2BtjPaW
How are you going to help end #ViolenceAgainstWomen this #16Days of Activism? Join me and @Women for Women International this year to educate, advocate and donate for a change! http://bit.ly/2BtjPaW
How are you going to help end #GBV this #16Days of Activism? Join me and @WomenforWomen this year to educate, advocate and donate for a change! Link in bio(http://bit.ly/2BtjPaW). #SheInspiresMe #StrongWomen #StrongNations
Download this picture and use it in your social media posts!
3. Support a woman survivor of conflict and war
WfWI was established in 1993 specifically to help survivors of sexual violence during the 1992 - 1995 conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Twenty-five years later, we continue our work in Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kosovo, the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Nigeria, Rwanda, and South Sudan- some of the hardest places to be a woman. You can help us provide women survivors of GBV and sexual violence with the tools they need to empower themselves, their families and their communities. By supporting a woman survivor of conflict, you can take active steps in the healing process.
Preventing and ending gender-based violence is possible. Education, advocating for change, standing with a survivor of war and violence are just a few of the things you can do to help end this global and pervasive issue. Join us during #16Days of activism and help end GBV across the globe.
