16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence 2026
Wednesday 25 November to Thursday 10 December 2026
Dates can vary from year to year, so check the organiser’s website for the latest details.
The international 16 Days of Activism run 25 November–10 December, connecting action against gender-based violence with health, equality and human rights.
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Dates and event details
Wednesday 25 November to Thursday 10 December 2026. Held every year from 25 November to 10 December.
| Date status | Date calculated from a fixed annual pattern |
|---|---|
| Date-check source | World Health Organization |
| Where | International |
About 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence run from 25 November to 10 December 2026. This international campaign connects action to prevent violence against women and girls with wider questions of health, equality and human rights. It offers organisations and communities a period for learning, advocacy and sustained practical work.
When are the 16 Days of Activism?
The annual campaign runs from 25 November to 10 December. It begins on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. WHO’s official campaign page confirms the range and explains its involvement in addressing violence as a public health and human rights issue.
The dates support the 2026 observance. A particular 2026 campaign theme has not been verified for this listing, so this guide does not carry forward an older theme as if it were newly announced.
Suggested activities for organisations
These are planning ideas to adapt with suitable specialist input, rather than an official campaign programme:
- Review the information people can find. Check whether staff, volunteers or service users can locate relevant policies and support routes without having to disclose personal circumstances.
- Commission a focused learning session. Give a qualified specialist a clear brief, agree access requirements and payment, and share the outline before the event.
- Improve one communication. Ask the responsible team to review its language, format and contact information, using current local specialist guidance.
- Agree a follow-up action. Record a specific task, the person responsible and a realistic review date, then tell participants how progress will be shared.
What does the campaign cover?
The global observance focuses on gender-based violence and violence against women and girls. WHO and its partners contribute through evidence, policy work and efforts to improve relevant health services. Activities can involve governments, civil society, schools, workplaces and community organisations.
The campaign is broader than a workplace domestic abuse initiative. Related campaigns may share dates or support similar goals while having their own organisers and scope. When planning an event, use the correct campaign name and explain which issue your activity will address.
Plan with purpose and appropriate expertise
Choose one aim before filling a calendar with activities. An organisation might want staff to understand an existing policy, a community group might arrange learning with a specialist service, or a school might use an age-appropriate programme approved through its normal procedures.
Invite the people responsible for the relevant support, safeguarding or policy arrangements into planning. Agree how participants can ask questions and how facilitators will respond if a discussion raises a concern. Explain the session’s scope in advance so people can make an informed choice about taking part.
Respectful participation and storytelling
Do not make personal disclosure a condition of joining an activity. Offer ways to learn or contribute privately, and make clear whether a session will be recorded or photographed. A person may choose to attend without wanting their involvement shared publicly.
If someone wishes to contribute a personal story, agree the proposed words, images, audience and review process with them. Avoid treating a contribution as permission for every future use. Give people time to decide what they want to share, and do not assume that one experience represents everybody affected.
Communications across the 16 days
A modest, coherent programme can be more useful than a daily post without a clear purpose. Introduce the campaign, share a checked resource, explain an action your organisation is taking and provide an update on that action. Identify which messages come from official campaign sources and which are your own commitments.
Use accurate local support information supplied or checked by an appropriate specialist organisation. Keep the essential details available as readable text, and check links before the campaign begins. Avoid sharing graphic material or personal details simply to attract attention.
