Every year on 25th November, the world marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, a date that reminds us of the urgent, ongoing struggle to end one of the most pervasive human rights violations of our time. It is a day of reflection, remembrance, and most importantly, action.
Violence against women and girls is not confined to one country, culture, or community. It is global, cutting across borders, classes, and generations. From domestic abuse and sexual violence to harassment in public spaces and online abuse, women and girls face daily threats to their safety and dignity. According to the United Nations, nearly 1 in 3 women worldwide has experienced physical or sexual violence in her lifetime. These are not abstract numbers they represent the lived realities of our sisters, daughters, mothers, friends, and colleagues.
For 16 days this year we are launching our 16 days, 16 voices campaign. The idea is simple yet powerful: when we raise our voices together, we shift the culture of silence that allows violence to continue. Every story shared, every conversation sparked, every act of speaking out matters. Your voice matters.
Why Your Voice Matters
When we talk about ending violence against women, it can feel overwhelming. The scale of the problem is vast, and the solutions require deep structural change, policy reform, funding, education, and shifting cultural norms. But change also begins with something deeply personal: our voices.
Voices break silence. For too long, shame and stigma have kept survivors quiet. By using our voices to listen, believe, and stand beside them, we challenge a culture that silences survivors.
Voices shape policy. When communities speak up, leaders listen. Collective voices have historically led to stronger laws against domestic abuse, workplace harassment, and child marriage. Progress happens because people demand it.
Voices change hearts and minds. Violence against women is rooted in harmful beliefs about gender, power, and control. Conversations at the dinner table, in classrooms, at workplaces are where cultural change begins.
Voices offer solidarity. For survivors, knowing that others are speaking up can make the difference between isolation and hope. Solidarity tells women: you are not alone.
The Power of Collective Voices
History shows us what’s possible when voices come together. From the suffrage movement to global movements against sexual harassment like #MeToo and Times Up, change has always been fuelled by people refusing to stay silent. These moments remind us that while one voice may spark a flame, it is the chorus of many that keeps it burning.
But collective action is not just about loud global movements. It’s also about local solidarity- friends who speak up when they see abuse, communities who advocate for safer services, workplaces that refuse to tolerate harassment, men and boys who use their voices to challenge toxic masculinity. Small acts, multiplied across communities, ripple outwards into systemic change.
Using Your Voice: How You Can Make a Difference
The answer is: more than you think. Here are some ways your voice counts in the fight to end violence against women:
Speak Out Against Harmful Norms: Challenge sexist jokes, harmful stereotypes, and victim-blaming when you hear them. Silence allows harmful attitudes to thrive.
Advocate for Change: Use your voice to call on governments, schools, and workplaces to prioritize funding for services that support survivors and prevent violence.
Amplify Survivors’ Voices: Share resources, stories, and campaigns that uplift survivors. Believe them and make space for their experiences.
Educate Yourself and Others: Learn about the different forms of violence, physical, emotional, financial, digital and talk about them with those around you. Knowledge spreads awareness, and awareness sparks change.
Show Solidarity: Even simple actions like posting about the issue, wearing orange during the 16 Days of Activism, or joining community events can build momentum.
A Call to Action
The Voice of Solidarity campaign is about recognising that while violence against women is a global problem, each of us has a role to play in the solution. Ending violence is a collective responsibility.
Your voice is a tool of change. When you speak up against injustice, when you advocate for survivor-centred policies, when you challenge harmful norms in your own circles, you contribute to building a world where women and girls can live free from fear and violence.
As we begin the 16 Days of Activism, let this be a reminder: your voice is powerful. It matters. And when joined with others, it can transform silence into solidarity, despair into hope, and injustice into change. Together, our voices can create a world where violence against women is not inevitable, but unthinkable.
-Written by Yashiba Sanil, Communications and Campaigns Officer