16 Days of Activism: Building Systems for Women’s Safety

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual global campaign that highlights the urgent need to end violence against women and girls.

This year, the message is clear: violence against women and girls can and must be prevented.

There is no excuse for it. Communities play a vital role in building systems of care that can act as a first line of protection for women and girls, fostering an environment where safety and respect are the norm, not the exception.

The Need for Prevention
Violence against women and girls remains one of the most pervasive human rights violations across the world.

In many communities, it has become normalized, with survivors often blamed or silenced. Yet, this is not an inevitable part of life.

Preventing violence requires shifting how we perceive women and girls in society, challenging harmful norms, and fostering safe spaces where they are valued and protected.

Prevention starts with recognizing the root causes of violence—patriarchy, inequality, and toxic social norms. By addressing these systemic issues, we can disrupt the cycles of violence that have harmed generations of women and girls.

As communities, we have the responsibility to be active participants in prevention, which begins with educating ourselves, raising awareness, and speaking out against all forms of abuse.

Building Systems of Care: The Role of the Community
As UN Women states, “Ending violence is not just about changing the behavior of individual perpetrators, but about transforming the broader social and cultural systems that perpetuate inequality and harm.”

This highlights the importance of collective action. Communities play a critical role in preventing violence by creating systems of care that act as a first line of protection for women and girls.

These systems of care involve more than just emergency interventions; they include fostering environments where women and girls feel safe, heard, and supported before violence occurs.

Communities must prioritize education on healthy relationships, promote gender equality, and work to dismantle harmful gender norms that fuel violence. By creating a culture that values and respects women and girls, we build resilience against violence.

Communities can also engage in practical initiatives like organizing local support groups, offering safe spaces, and collaborating with local authorities to ensure effective response mechanisms are in place. It’s through this collective effort that we can ensure that the next generation grows up in a world where violence is unacceptable and actively prevented.

The Role of Government in Supporting Community-Initiated Care
While communities are essential in creating systems of care for women and girls, the government plays an equally vital role in supporting these grassroots initiatives. Government action is crucial in setting up the infrastructure, policies, and resources that communities need to be effective in preventing violence.

One of the primary responsibilities of the government is to establish and enforce laws that protect women and girls from violence. By ensuring that there are strong legal frameworks, governments can provide the necessary protection and recourse for victims of violence.

For community-initiated care to thrive, the government must also guarantee that these laws are adequately implemented, with law enforcement agencies trained to handle cases of gender-based violence sensitively and effectively.

In addition to legal protection, the government must provide resources to support community-driven initiatives. This could include funding shelters, hotlines, and counseling services that communities may not have the capacity to fully sustain on their own. Governments can also facilitate training programs for community leaders, helping them learn best practices for violence prevention and support for survivors.

Finally, the government plays a key role in raising public awareness about gender-based violence. Through national campaigns and partnerships with community organizations, governments can help shift societal attitudes and challenge the normalization of violence against women and girls. By working hand-in-hand with communities, the government can ensure that prevention efforts are widespread, consistent, and effective.

Conclusion
The fight against violence towards women and girls requires a collective effort. Communities play a crucial role in offering immediate care, protection, and support, but this work cannot be done in isolation. It is the responsibility of the government to create a supportive framework that empowers these grassroots initiatives, ensures justice, and upholds the rights and dignity of women and girls.

As we participate in the 16 Days of Activism, let us remember that violence is preventable. By working together—communities, governments, and individuals—we can build systems of care that offer real protection and foster a culture of zero tolerance for violence. There is no excuse for violence, and we all have a part to play in creating a safer world for women and girls.

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