Press Release – OHCHR

In order to mark International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (25 November) and 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence (25 November – 10 December), women’s organisations, human rights groups and various actors around the world are …22 November 2011

In order to mark International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (25 November) and 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence (25 November – 10 December), women’s organisations, human rights groups and various actors around the world are joining up and organising a number of events and activities. The 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence is an international annual campaign originating from the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991.
Matilda Bogner, Regional Representative of OHCHR’s Pacific Office, said:

“Linking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and the 16 Days of Activism with International Human Rights Day (10 December) brings home a global, clear and strong message – gender based violence is a human rights violation. Gender based violence, including sexual violence, domestic violence, sorcery-related killings, and femicide (the killing of women because they are women) are among the most pressing human rights issues in the Pacific. In this context, it is of the utmost importance to build and support home grown human rights organisations and activities to prevent future violations by holding the perpetrators of violence against women accountable. Such work can save and protect lives.”

During the 16 Days of Activism, the United Nations (UN) Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Regional Office for the Pacific is organising events that support Women’s Human Rights Defender Networks. These networks of individuals and organisations defending human rights have been, or are being, set up to help protect each other and to advocate for reforms in legislation, policies and practice. Events are being organised in Honiara, Solomon Islands, in November and in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea in December, with participants drawn from a wide range of non-governmental organisations and human rights groups.

The Honiara based seminar will be a forum for various actors and human rights defenders to discuss strategies on human rights protection, state accountability and strengthen coordination work among civil society organisations and networks. “The seminar will look at how to promote stronger action and accountability of the Government in relation to gender based violation. It will also examine how human rights defenders, who often work under dangerous conditions, can be better protected,” Ms Bogner said.

The December event in Papua New Guinea will facilitate women leaders from the seven provinces of the Highlands to come together in Goroka, Eastern Highlands. “They will meet to strategise how to work together to address pressing issues such as sorcery-related accusations and killings of women and gender based violence in armed tribal conflict. The need to strengthen the Government’s response to these issues through the justice and police systems will also be discussed,” Ms Bogner said.

Ms Bogner also used this opportunity to congratulate recent recipients of the UNDP Pacific Centre Strengthening Capacities for Peace and Development Regional Project small grants. She further noted that a number of recipients are in fact members of existing Women’s Human Rights Defender Networks in Papua New Guinea and are also involved in the 16 Days of Activism campaign. “I’d like to commend the Simbu Human Rights Advocates, Voice for Change, Hako Women’s Collective, Leitana Nehan, and the North Bougainville Women’s Federation for their activities and successful bids for the grants. OHCHR in the Pacific looks forward to continuing to work alongside these groups to advance human rights,” she said.

The 16 Days Campaign has been used as an organising strategy by individuals and groups around the world to call for the elimination of all forms of violence against women. OHCHR in the Pacific joins the campaign to: raise awareness about gender-based violence as a human rights issue at the local, national, regional and international levels; strengthen national work around violence against women; establish a clear link between local and international work to end violence against women; provide a forum in which organisers can develop and share new and effective strategies; demonstrate the solidarity of women around the world organising to eliminate violence against women; and create tools to pressure governments to implement promises made to eliminate violence against women.