16 Days of Action 2017

This international campaign aims to bring global attention to the issue of violence against women and girls and London as a global capital will be marking the campaign with events run by communities and organisations across the city.

This year’s theme is “Leave No One Behind: End Violence against Women and Girls”. As in previous years, the colour orange will be a key theme throughout the activities, and around the world buildings and landmarks will be lit and decorated in orange to bring global attention to the issue of violence against women and girls.[i]

In London, Lambeth Council has teamed up with the world famous London Eye and the National Theatre, to ‘Orange Lambeth’ and to support ‘White Ribbon Day’.[ii] Around the city events will be taking place to mark the start of the 16 days and below is a list of activities planned by organisations and boroughs across London.

Partners from ASCENT, the Pan-London Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Consortium[iii] funded by London Councils’ Grants Programme will also be holding events and these are also listed below.

History of the Day

Women's activists have marked 25 November as a day against violence since 1981. On 20 December 1993 the General Assembly, by resolution 48/104, adopted the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women.

In this context, in 1999 the United Nations General Assembly designated 25 November as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and invited governments, international organizations and NGOs to organize on that day activities designed to raise public awareness of the problem. [iv]

Events in London

24^th November

• Islington Council’s White Ribbon Day event helping to tackle domestic violence and abuse where GALOP, one of the Ascent Project partners will be attending: https://twitter.com/IslingtonBC/status/933666506155667457
• The Asian Women’s Resource Centre’s White Ribbon Event including a candlelit vigil to remember those women who tragically lost their lives due to domestic violence.

25^th November

• The Annual Reclaim the Night March through central London: http://www.reclaimthenight.co.uk/event.html

27^th November:

• An interactive event run by AVA [Against Violence & Abuse] to mark this year’s 16 days of Action to eliminate Violence against Women and Girls: https://avaproject.org.uk/events/make-stand-violence-women-girls-free-event/

28^th November:

• Newham’s Standing up to violence against women and girls event​ at Newham Town Hall: https://twitter.com/NewhamLondon/status/930909532636753921

30^th November

•  Haringey Council is holding a range of events throughout to mark each of the 16 days – with an event at Tottenham Town Hall to celebrate the great work that has taken place across the borough to achieve the White Ribbon Local Authority Award: http://www.haringey.gov.uk/social-care-and-health/health/public-health/domestic-violence-and-abuse-and-violence-against-women-and-girls/violence-against-women-and-girls/16-days-action-2017
• As part of the 16 days of Activism Campaign, this Ascent special event run by the Women’s Resource Centre will focus on the relationship between the Women's Sector and CEDAW – the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Violence Against Women. More details can be found here: https://thewomensresourcecentre.org.uk/wp-content/plugins/civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=13047&qid=262947

Please note that this is not a definitive list and it is worth checking individual borough and organisation websites for information on additional activities in local areas.