The global #16Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence campaign started on November 25 with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and ended on International Human Rights Day, which was celebrated on December 10.
Throughout those #16Days, the World Bank’s message was clear: Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) is a global pandemic that has or will affect 1 in 3 women in their lifetime. Violence is not only a personal struggle for the victims, but also has severe consequences on social and economic outcomes.
As a leading development institution, the World Bank is uniquely positioned to address violence against women and girls around the world, and currently supports development projects aimed at addressing the issue. The Bank actively participated in the #16Days campaign by bringing together our own experts as well as external partners to zero in on the root causes of violence and identify solutions:
- Take a look at the video announcing the start of the #16Days campaign:
- If you want to learn more about violence against women and girls, read this brief
- Each day, we published a blog entry from colleagues working on gender-based violence around the world, both from inside and outside the Bank
- Blog posts have included:
- How violent extremism links to violence against women
- Jamaican youth: taking on gender stereotypes to address sexual violence
- Violence in South Asia casts a lifelong shadow over women and girls
- Gender-based violence: lesbian and transgender women face the highest risk but get the least attention
- Engaging men and boys in Pakistan to help end violence against women
- If you cannot say it, then draw it: comic books against gender-based violence in India
- The missing men in violence against women
- Education as a vehicle to end violence against women
- Can fashion and art help prevent gender-based violence?
- Why men for women: Engaging men and boys in addressing sexual and gender-based violence in conflict
- How Jordan is expanding its assistance to victims of gender-based violence
- Experts, communities convene to develop evidence-based approaches to prevent intimate partner violence in Honduras
- Turning scars into stars: Gender-based violence program in Nairobi private hospital system sets new standard for Africa
- Georgia: Law and services on gender-based violence are ahead of social attitudes
- How we're supporting partners who assist survivors of sexual and gender based violence
- The gas and mining industries take on gender-based violence in Papua New Guinea
- Finally, our #16Days campaign culminated on Dec 7th with an event titled Violence against Women and Girls: It’s Everybody’s Business. Moderated by journalist Joanne Levine, the event included gynecologist and Sakharov Prize winner Denis Mukwege, M.D.; pediatrician Nadia Hashimi; Imam Yahya Hendi from Georgetown University; the president of the Representation Project, Kristen Joiner; and World Bank Vice President for the Africa Region, Makhtar Diop.
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