MEDIA ADVISORY

16 Days of Activism Campaign Against Gender Based Violence

INVITATION TO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEDIA

What: 16 Days of Activism Campaign Against Gender-Based Violence.
Theme: “Fight Sexual, and Gender-Based Violence against Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons”.
When: 3rd December 2019
Where: AUC Headquarters, Addis Ababa Ethiopia, Mandela Hall
Time: 2.30 – 4.30 pm

Organized by: The Women, Gender and Development Directorate (WGDD), the Office of the Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security (OSE on WPS) and the Gender Peace and Security Programme (GPSP) of the Peace and Security Department (PSD) in partnership with the Norwegian Mission to the African Union, the Nobel Peace Centre and the Mukwege Foundation.

Who:
- AUC Senior Leaders and officials
- High Level Government Representatives from the Federal Republic of Ethiopia
- 2018 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Dr. Denis Mukwege
- High Level Representatives of the Norwegian Embassy in Addis Ababa
- AU Ambassadors
- UN Agencies
- International Development Partners
- CSOs including women, youth and persons with disabilities
- Media

Background:

The 16 Days of Activism Campaign Against Gender-Based Violence is an international Campaign to end violence against women and to advocate for the promotion and protection of women’s rights. The Campaign runs annually from 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) to 10 December (International Human Rights).

The 16 Days of Activism Campaign is therefore used as an organizing strategy by individuals, organizations and governments around the globe to advocate for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls. The Campaign calls on women and men, old and youth in all parts of the world to take action in their communities, play their part and stand up against violence against women and girls. Since its inception in 1991, the Campaign has generated an increased awareness about the negative consequences of violence against women and girls.

The 2019 global theme for the Campaign is “Orange the World: Generation Equality Stands against Rape!” The African Union (AU) theme is: “Orange Africa: Fight Sexual, and Gender-Based Violence Against Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons”. This is aligned with the 2019 AU theme of “Year of Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons: Towards Durable Solutions to Forced Displacement in Africa”.

The African Union Commission will observe the 16 Days of Activism Campaign and among others, host a Panel Discussion on Sexual Violence in Conflict and an Exhibition titled “The Body as a Battlefield”. The Panel Discussions and the Exhibition will be organized by the Women, Gender and Development Directorate (WGDD), the Office of the Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security (OSE on WPS) and the Gender Peace and Security Programme (GPSP) of the Peace and Security Department (PSD) in partnership with the Norwegian Mission to the African Union, the Nobel Peace Centre and the Mukwege Foundation.

The overall objective of the Campaign is to raise awareness about violence against women and girls, including sexual violence in conflict situations and its negative consequences especially on Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons.

The specific objectives:

- Mobilize individuals, organizations and Member States to take collective responsibility to fight against sexual and gender based violence against women and girls including Refugees, Returnees and IDPs;
- Agree on strategies to strengthen preventive mechanisms as well as accountability and justice systems to bring perpetrators to book;
- Secure fresh commitment to accelerate implementation of commitments to prevent and end violence against women, including sexual violence in conflict.

Expected Outcomes:

- Awareness raised and stakeholders mobilized to take collective responsibility to fight against sexual and gender based violence against women and girls including Refugees, Returnees and IDPs;
- Strategies agreed on to strengthen preventive mechanisms as well as accountability and justice systems to bring perpetrators to book;
- Fresh commitment secured to accelerate implementation of commitments to prevent and end violence against women, including sexual violence in conflict.

For media enquiry pleases contact:
Ms. Susan Nyabena/ Junior Programmer Officer/ Women Gender and Development Directorate. Email: nyabenaS@africa-union.orgTel : +0944-083113
Ms. Afrah Thabit / communication Officer / Directorate of Information and communication E mail; Thabitma@africa-union.orgTell : +251911-200922