16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign Launched in Yavan District

The run under the slogan “My power is not for violence!” reflects the philosophy of the awareness campaign. This year, the organizers prepared various activities to prevent gender-based violence, raise awareness, and involve men and boys in eliminating violence against women and girls.

The campaign is supported by all stakeholders – government officials, UN agencies, the donor community, national and international organizations, civic activists, the media, youth groups, artists and entertainers who support the idea of combating violence against women and girls.

The theme of this year’s global campaign is “UNiTE! Activism to end Violence against Women & Girls”. In support of UNiTE, led by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, there is a call for joint action to raise awareness, strengthen human rights efforts, share knowledge and innovate – to end this phenomenon once and for all.

This year, as part of the campaign, UN agencies, international partners and government agencies, together with civil society organizations, media and activists, will hold more than 40 various thematic events in all regions of the country. Events are held at the national, regional and local levels and include seminars, information and education sessions, and discussions on citizens’ rights and opportunities.

Seventeen different activities are planned in the target regions under the EU-UN joint flagship initiative –Spotlight – aimed at raising awareness, building the capacity of partners, improving the quality of health services, and helping to meet commitments to reduce gender-based violence.

The Spotlight Initiative creates opportunities for a multisectoral, coordinated and holistic approach to addressing violence against women and girls, enabling work with all stakeholders, including national governments, service providers, civil society and other key actors.

Note: The Spotlight Initiative is a global partnership between the EU and the UN with a long-term vision to eradicate all forms of violence against women and girls. The overall vision of the Spotlight Initiative in Tajikistan, to be implemented by December 2023, is for women and girls to enjoy their right to live free from violence. The program will contribute to eliminating sexual and gender-based violence by responding to the needs of women and girls and addressing the root causes of the phenomenon through a multisectoral and interagency approach.