16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence- Strengthening our resolve to act

As in past years, the three UN Rome-based Agencies (RBAs) participated in the campaign to amplify the voices of victims and survivors and to demonstrate their continuous commitment to action to end all forms of gender-based violence.  

FAO – in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) – hosted a virtual event to mark the end of this year’s international campaign of the ‘16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV). 

As highlighted by the representatives of the three RBAs, gender-based violence remains a global problem and is further exacerbated by crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and conflicts. Such crises have aggravated the key drivers of violence against women, which include economic insecurity, isolation, emergency situations fuelled by food shortages, unemployment, school closure and migration flows, to name just a few.  

Together, the three UN Rome-based Agencies implement the Joint Programme on Gender Transformative Approaches for Food Security, Improved Nutrition and Sustainable Agriculture (JP GTA), which seeks to tackle the root causes of gender-based violence, showcasing good practices that contribute to positive gender-related changes.  

FAO’s Dimitra Clubs are exerting transformative power to accelerate that change. In sub-Saharan Africa, Dimitra Clubs have been empowering rural people to champion and galvanize development within their own communities. With 3 400 clubs and 102 000 members, the Dimitra Clubs are having a positive impact on an estimated 2 million rural people. You can learn more about the project here. 

Here in Brussels, as part of the #OrangeTheWorld global theme, marking the ‘16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV)’, several landmarks turned orange on November 25 to raise awareness of the need for action to end violence against women and girls. The city of Brussels participates every year in the campaign, led by UN Women, lighting in orange iconic buildings such as the Brussels city hall at the Grand Place.