16 Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women and Girls
Vital Voices 16 Story Highlights
Bridgette Kyalimpa Babigumira
"I strive to turn feminist knowledge into action, raising awareness and empowering communities to challenge all forms of gender-based violence."
What does 16 Days of Activism mean to you?
What misconceptions around VAWG do you see in your work?
Bisheshta Shrestha
"#WhyDidn’tI? began as a question to the world, but became an answer — that our stories are power, and our voices the revolution patriarchy never prepared for.”
What does 16 Days of Activism mean to you?
What misconceptions around VAWG do you see in your work?
Nargis Nehan
In addition to providing immediate assistance and psychosocial counseling, these centers actively follow up on cases by engaging with families and working through the Conflict Resolution Committees and Grandmothers’ Groups that Ms. Nehan created. Together, they help resolve disputes and support survivors through culturally grounded, community-based mechanisms. Alongside direct support to survivors, Ms. Nehan consistently advocates for accountability from the Taliban regime, which has institutionalized discrimination by stripping women of their basic human rights, shutting down key public institutions such as the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and the Human Rights Commission, and dehumanizing women, actions that have led to a sharp rise in GBV and near total impunity across Afghanistan.
"My journey is about turning pain into purpose, from losing everything under the Taliban to keeping hope alive for Afghan women and fighting for their freedom and dignity.”
What does 16 Days of Activism mean to you?
What misconceptions around VAWG do you see in your work?
Veronica Flores-Desentis
“I help reshape stories — turning silence into voice, and pain into purpose."
What does 16 Days of Activism mean to you?
What misconceptions around VAWG do you see in your work?
Adena Vangjeli
Adena holds a Bachelor’s degree in Law and a Master’s degree in International Relations. She has attended extensive courses at the Vienna University of Economics and Business on social innovation and management and the Women’s Human Rights Training Institute (WHRTI) in Bulgaria, from which she graduated with honors. Her areas of expertise are women’s rights, gender equality, human rights, and combating violence against women.
"All women must live a life with dignity, without discrimination and with equal opportunities.”
What does 16 Days of Activism mean to you?
What misconceptions around VAWG do you see in your work?
Sophie Sandberg
“Gender justice activism is not a solo performance, it's a chorus. Even when you need to take a breath, the music will continue. Relying on others has been essential to building a sustainable movement.”
What does 16 Days of Activism mean to you?
What misconceptions around VAWG do you see in your work?
Precious Kiwiti
"'You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it.'
by Margaret Thatcher. Being a VAWG survivor and advocate at the same time it's like fighting the battle twice. We will win.”
What does 16 Days of Activism mean to you?
What misconceptions around VAWG do you see in your work?
Watcharapon Kukaewkasem
"I commit to turning fear into safety, helplessness into strength, and isolation into hope, creating spaces where people find courage, reclaim their power, and know they are not alone."
What does 16 Days of Activism mean to you?
What misconceptions around VAWG do you see in your work?
Tania Naanous Rayek
"“Justice isn’t only about punishment; it’s about restoration. My journey in VAWG work is about turning awareness into action and systemic prevention.”
What does 16 Days of Activism mean to you?
What misconceptions around VAWG do you see in your work?
Salvation Aworanti
With over seven years of experience in human and community development, Salvation Grace has established herself as a seasoned leader and gender expert. She has led over 35 projects to address gender-based violence and has collaborated with numerous organizations to promote the rights of women and girls.
“I survived what I thought would break me. Today, I use that pain to fight for those still silenced. Every girl, woman deserves safety, dignity, and a voice. My journey is proof that healing is possible”
What does 16 Days of Activism mean to you?
What misconceptions around VAWG do you see in your work?
Ciji Wagner
Wagner earned a degree from the Culinary Institute of America and worked a number of jobs in the restaurant industry before entering the nonprofit sector as an executive chef. Since that pivot, Wagner has utilized her expertise learned from managing for-profit businesses to benefit several nonprofits in a variety of volunteer and consulting roles, as well as launching LTS.
“We have seen hope found, lives restored, and joy regained by survivors doing this work. It is all built on the foundation that survivors have already paid enough, and community is the antidote.”
What does 16 Days of Activism mean to you?
What misconceptions around VAWG do you see in your work?
Nitisha Pandey
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has." ~ Margaret Mead”
What does 16 Days of Activism mean to you?
What misconceptions around VAWG do you see in your work?
Lucy Ezemba
“I build a space where women feel safe to speak, heal, and be heard, because safety is not a privilege, it’s a right every woman deserves, online and offline.”
What does 16 Days of Activism mean to you?
What misconceptions around VAWG do you see in your work?
Hilda Joanna Terán Romero
"Peru is diverse not only in culture, but also in its forms of oppression; Quechua and Aymara women have the right to decide and to be a real part of building the society and country we envision."
What does 16 Days of Activism mean to you?
What misconceptions around GBV do you see in your work?
Rose Sanjoh Egbe
“We rise by raising others”
What does 16 Days of Activism mean to you?
What misconceptions around VAWG do you see in your work?
Beatriz Accioly
She is currently Head of Public Policies for Women. Author of Precisamos falar de consentimento (We Need to Talk About Consent), a widely read book that reframes sexual violence through clarity, evidence, and public understanding, among other publications.
"Awareness is the starting line, not the finish. My work is moving past conversations to design and implement structural solutions—like Alagoas Lilás—that guarantee systemic change and protection."
What does 16 Days of Activism mean to you?
What misconceptions around VAWG do you see in your work?
Get Involved: Attend Vital Voices Events and Use the Media Toolkit
Welcome to Vital Voices’ 16 Days of Activism event series, exploring the issue of Digital Violence Against Women and Girls. This series shines a spotlight on advocates who are championing solutions to support survivors and drive meaningful change.
Dec 10 In Person Film Screening and Panel: To Kill a Tiger by Dir. Nisha Pahuja
Join us at the Vital Voices Global Headquarters for an in-person film screening and panel, featuring Oscar-nominated Director Nisha Pahuja and Alyse Nelson the President and CEO of Vital Voices.
Media Toolkit: Amplify Advocacy in the Fight Against Violence Against Women and Girls
Vital Voices Crisis Readiness Guidebook and Toolkits
For questions or more information, please contact crisis@vitalvoices.org with the subject line “Readiness 2025.”
Workshop Session: Build Your Own Sextortion Diary with Dir. Patricia Franquesa
Reach out to Patricia Franquesa to book your workshop session at the link below.
Dec 1 Online Film Screening and Panel: My Sextortion Diary by Dir. Patricia Franquesa
If you are not able to make the screening, you can also watch the film on the Vimeo Link below, from November 26 to Dec 3.
About the Panel: Vital Voices Global Partnership, in collaboration with Women Make Movies, and the Red Dot Foundation will present a special online screening and virtual panel discussion featuring the award-winning documentary My Sextortion Diary. Panelists include Patricia Franquesa: Director, My Sextortion Diary; Luz Patricia Mejia: Technical Secretary, Follow-Up Mechanism to the Belém do Pará Convention (MESECVI), OAS; Elsa D'Silva: Founder & CEO, Red Dot Foundation; Kendra Hodgson: Managing Director, Women Make Movies; Felicity Mulford: Specialist on Technology-Facilitated GBV.
About the Film: My Sextortion Diary offers a powerful and deeply personal exploration of sextortion, one of the most pervasive yet underreported forms of gender-based violence, told through the eyes of a survivor. The film exposes how technology and power intersect to perpetuate exploitation, while illuminating pathways toward justice, accountability, and resilience.
Types of Violence Against Women and Girls
Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) impacts millions globally, with one in three women experiencing physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. GBV is any harm or suffering directed at individuals based on their gender, disproportionately affecting women, girls, and marginalized communities. GBV takes various forms that deprive individuals of their human rights and dignity. Here’s a breakdown of the 16 types of GBV.
Digital Violence
Technology-facilitated GBV (TFGBV) – often referred to as cyber violence or online abuse – refers to harmful acts directed at women and girls through digital platforms, including harassment, stalking, and the dissemination of threatening or abusive content. This form of violence can have profound emotional and psychological effects, exacerbating feelings of fear and isolation, and often limits their ability to engage freely and safely in online spaces. For 2025, UN Women is focusing on raising awareness around digital gender-based violence as part of its UNiTE campaign. Click here to learn more.
Physical Violence
Physical violence refers to the intentional use of force against an individual, causing injury or harm. This form of violence disproportionately affects women and girls, often manifesting in domestic abuse, sexual assault, and other harmful acts, leading to serious physical injuries and long-term psychological effects.
Sexual Violence
Physical violence refers to the intentional use of force against an individual, causing injury or harm. This form of violence disproportionately affects women and girls, often manifesting in domestic abuse, sexual assault, and other harmful acts, leading to serious physical injuries and long-term psychological effects.
Psychological / Emotional
Physical violence refers to the intentional use of force against an individual, causing injury or harm. This form of violence disproportionately affects women and girls, often manifesting in domestic abuse, sexual assault, and other harmful acts, leading to serious physical injuries and long-term psychological effects.
Physical Violence
Physical violence refers to the intentional use of force against an individual, causing injury or harm. This form of violence disproportionately affects women and girls, often manifesting in domestic abuse, sexual assault, and other harmful acts, leading to serious physical injuries and long-term psychological effects.
Human Trafficking
Human trafficking involves the exploitation of individuals through coercion, deception, or force for purposes such as forced labor, sexual exploitation, or involuntary servitude. Women and girls are disproportionately affected by trafficking, often facing severe physical and psychological harm, and it perpetuates cycles of abuse and vulnerability within communities.
Honor-Based Violence
Honor-based violence refers to acts of violence committed against individuals, often women and girls, to protect or restore the perceived honor of a family or community. This violence can take various forms, including physical abuse, forced marriage, and even murder, and is rooted in cultural beliefs about gender roles and family reputation.
Femicide
Femicide is the intentional killing of women and girls because of their gender, often rooted in systemic gender inequality and societal norms that devalue female lives. This form of violence can take many forms, including domestic violence, sexual violence, and so-called “honor killings,” and it reflects broader issues of misogyny and discrimination in society.
Intimate Partner Violence (IVP)
One of the most common forms of GBV, intimate partner violence involves violence inflicted by a current or former spouse. This abuse can be physical, emotional, psychological, sexual, or economic, and it often seeks to establish power and control over the other partner. IPV can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status, and it can have severe and lasting effects on the victims’ physical and mental well-being.
Child Marriage
Child marriage refers to the practice of marrying individuals, typically girls, before the age of 18, often without their full consent. This harmful practice can lead to a range of negative consequences, including interrupted education, increased health risks during pregnancy and childbirth, and a higher likelihood of experiencing domestic violence, ultimately limiting the opportunities and autonomy of young women.
Reproductive Coercion
Reproductive coercion refers to behaviors that interfere with an individual’s reproductive autonomy, such as sabotaging contraceptive methods or pressuring a partner to become pregnant against their wishes. This type of coercion often occurs in the context of intimate partner violence.
Stalking
Stalking is a pattern of repeated, unwanted attention and contact that causes fear or distress to the victim. This behavior can include following, monitoring, or harassing an individual, and it often escalates over time, leading to serious emotional and physical consequences for those targeted.
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment refers to unwelcome and inappropriate sexual advances, comments, or behaviors that create a hostile or intimidating environment. This harmful behavior can lead to significant emotional distress, decreased confidence, and barriers to participation in education and the workplace, ultimately undermining the safety and autonomy of women and girls.
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
FGM/C, also known as female circumcision, is the practice in which a female is subjected to a procedure involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for nonmedical reasons, whether committed within or outside of a medical institution. FGM is a part of the coming-of-age ritual for women in some cultures, but it is performed on girls of all ages, from infants to adults.
Sexual Exploitation
Sexual exploitation involves exploiting individuals, often through coercion or manipulation, to engage in sexual activities for financial or personal gain. This form of violence primarily impacts women and girls, resulting in significant physical and emotional harm, while also reinforcing cycles of abuse, poverty, and societal stigma.
Forced Prostitution
Forced prostitution involves compelling an individual to engage in commercial sexual activities against their will, often through coercion, manipulation, or violence. This form of exploitation is a severe violation of human rights and is closely linked to human trafficking and other forms of gender-based violence.
Join the Fight to End Digital Violence Against Women and Girls
Learn More About Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV)
Click the link below to read through a factsheet Vital Voices created in partnership with the Institute of Global Politics (IGP), along with recommendations for how to address the issues.
Background on UN Women's 2025 Campaign
This year’s campaign is also a reminder that digital safety is central to gender equality. Violence against women and girls affects one in three women. It is a global human rights emergency that must stop. As the world marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action – one of the most progressive international agreements on women’s rights to date – the UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE 2025 campaign focuses on one of the fastest-growing forms of abuse: digital violence against women and girls.