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November 25 marks the International Day Against Violence Against Women, and the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence. During the 16 Days, individuals and groups around the world are asked to help raise awareness of gender-based violence and show their support for global efforts to end violence against women and girls.

In commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, United States Vice President Biden released a statement saying, in part, “Violence against women is found in every culture around the world. It is one of our most pervasive global problems, yet it is preventable. When gang rape is a weapon of war, when women are beaten behind closed doors, or when young girls are trafficked in brothels and fields - we all suffer. This violence robs women and girls of their full potential, causes untold human suffering, and has great social and economic costs.” Click here to read the Vice President’s full statement.

U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Susan E. Rice also released a statement. “This day is of particular importance because women continue to be subjected daily to physical, sexual, psychological and economic abuse -- regardless of age, race, culture, economic status or location. No country is free of this scourge,” Ambassador Rice said. “Gender-based violence is a terrible reality that leaders of all nations must address and prevent through national and international action… As we mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the United States renews its resolve and commitment to fight gender-based violence in all its forms. We call upon the international community to collaborate to end these atrocities, to better protect women and girls, and to end impunity for perpetrators of gender based violence.” Read Ambassador Rice’s complete statement here.

The theme for this year’s 16 Days Campaign is Commit ▪ Act ▪ Demand: We CAN End Violence Against Women! During last year’s campaign, millions of people pledged their support for ending violence against women and upholding human rights. This year to build upon this momentum, the Center for Women’s Global Leadership is dedicating the 2009 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign to honor groups and individuals committed to bringing violence against women and girls to the forefront of global attention, encouraging everyone to take action, and demanding accountability for all of the promises made to eliminate violence against women and girls.

The international campaign originated from the first Women's Global Leadership Institute sponsored by the Center for Women's Global Leadership in 1991. Participants chose the dates, November 25, International Day Against Violence Against Women and December 10, International Human Rights Day, in order to symbolically link violence against women and human rights and to emphasize that such violence is a violation of human rights. This 16-day period also highlights other significant dates including November 29, International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, December 1, World AIDS Day, and December 6, which marks the Anniversary of the Montreal Massacre.

The 16 Days Campaign has been used as an organizing strategy by individuals and groups around the world to call for the elimination of all forms of violence against women by:

• Raising awareness about gender-based violence as a human rights issue at the local, national, regional and international levels; 
• Strengthening local work around violence against women; 
• Establishing a clear link between local and international work to end violence against women; 
• Providing a forum in which organizers can develop and share new and effective strategies; 
• Demonstrating the solidarity of women around the world organizing against violence against women; and 
• Creating tools to pressure governments to implement promises made to eliminate violence against women; 

Please click here for more information on how to join the growing international movement to end violence against women and girls. And to learn more about the International Violence Against Women Act, click here, here and here.