On November 25 the world marks International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. And with it, we enter into the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, culminating on International Human Rights Day on December 10. GRANs across the country are “Oranging” their communities to help raise awareness.
"This year’s United Nations theme for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is “Orange the World: #HearMeToo”. It aims to honour and further amplify voices, whether a housewife at home, a schoolgirl abused by her teacher, an office secretary, a sportswoman, or a boy who is an intern in a business, bringing them together across locations and sectors in a global movement of solidarity. It is a call to listen to and believe survivors, to end the culture of silencing and to put the survivors at the centre of the response. The focus must change from questioning the credibility of the victim, to pursuing the accountability of the perpetrator." -- Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women
You can read (or watch) Phumizile Mlambo-Ngcuka’s full message by clicking here.
#HearMeToo brings to the forefront the voices of women and girls who have survived violence, who are defending women’s rights every day, and who are taking action — many of them very far away from the limelight or media headlines. Their voices and stories need to be heard too. Click here to read moving personal #HearMeToo stories from Africa.
Consider sharing this post with others via social media using #HearMeToo and #orangetheworld! UN Women has come up with a “Twibbon” that allows you to show support by “Oranging” your profile picture on Facebook and Twitter. Click here if you’d like to “Orange” yourself over the next 16 Days!
