The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign begins on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women November 25th and ends on International Human Rights Day December 10th

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign was created in 1991 by the Women’s Global Leadership Institute. The event begins with The International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25th and ends December 10 with Human Rights Day. Other key dates of recognition during these 16 days include:

• November 29: International Women Human Rights Defenders Day
• December 1: World AIDS Day
• December 2: International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
• December 3: International Day of Persons with Disabilities
• December 5: International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development
• December 6: National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women
• December 9: International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime

Nanaimo’s Haven Society–along with community partners Vancouver Island University Faculty Association, Nanaimo Family Life Association, Nanaimo Women’s Resource Centre, Canadian Federation of University Women and Zonta: Nanaimo–will work together on a series of events under the organization’s “Clothesline Project.”

The Clothesline Project

Domestic violence still remains hidden behind closed doors–and it’s time to air our “dirty laundry.” “Part of how its effective is it’s an interactive visual art project,” said Anne Taylor, Haven Society executive director. “Really, our big message is violence silences. Many people who are victimized don’t feel safe to be able to speak up and when they do take that risk to speak up to family, friends or colleagues, sometimes the response they get actually creates more silencing.”

We are making it easier for people in Nanaimo to speak out through this interactive visual art project taking place at designated locations throughout the city.  The project involves hanging sheets, towels, T-shirts and other clothing, bearing messages against violence, on clotheslines to symbolically air the dirty laundry and provoke people into talking openly about gender violence. This year, Haven Society expects the recent #MeToo Campaign will bring additional significance to the 16 Days of activism.

Beginning Saturday November 25, 2017 Haven Staff, clients and partners and community members will be asked to contribute messages centered on the following topics: Violence is… I speak out on violence against women because… Speaking out about violence against women matters because… These inspiring and empowering messages will be hung on a Clothesline outside of Haven Society.

We speak with Haven Society executive director Anne Taylor, Vancouver Island University Faculty Association status of women chair Melissa Stephens, and Nanaimo Family Life Association executive director Deborah Hollins.

776_16 days activism_anne taylor_melissa stephens_deborah hollins_nov 20_2017_40
Left-click to listen; right-click to save.

podcast | #16Days #Activism #Gender-Based #Violence #Nanaimo #ViolenceSilences #NanaimoSpeaksOut @HavenSociety @ViuWomen @NanaimoFamLife | LISTEN: https://t.co/GAvdcUK1rY pic.twitter.com/tdy8eg3pAm

— People First Radio (@peoplefirstrad) November 20, 2017