#16Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence starts today!

Today marks International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and the start of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. We’re participating because we believe that all people—including women and girls—have the right to live free from violence, and to make their own decisions about their bodies, health, and futures.

Tragically, 1 in 3 women worldwide will experience assault, rape, or other abuse in her lifetime. Ending gender-based violence will require changes in policies and challenging deep-seated assumptions about what women can and cannot do. That’s why AJWS supports organizations and movements in developing countries working to stop violence and discrimination against women and girls.

Each day for the next 16 days leading up to World Human Rights Day, we will highlight inspiring women and women-led organizations working to end violence and create opportunities for girls. Follow along on Facebook and Instagram, and use #16Days to join the conversation!

At 15, Sunita Jaiswal was married to a man who was abusive. One day she responded to an ad from the Azad Foundation looking for women drivers. Not only did she learn to drive, she took lessons about women’s rights and self-defense. With the help of Azad, she filed a police report against her husband and got a divorce. Now, Sunita works as a private driver for a family in Delhi and can’t remember a time when she and her children were happier. #16Days Read more: https://ajws.org/stories/a-place-of-her-own/

Thousands of villagers in Burma's Kachin state have been forced from their ancestral homes to make way for the construction of the Myitsone Dam by a Chinese company. With support from AJWS, women activists are leading the effort to stop the dam, safeguard natural resources, and ensure community engagement in development projects. For now, construction has been halted and these women organizers with Mungchying Rawt Ja (“Civil Development") continue to fight! #16Days

When war erupted in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 1998, Julienne Lusenge was working as a humanitarian radio broadcaster, travelling from village to village to interview women about their lives. As the conflict escalated, these women began describing shocking abuses perpetrated by the warring parties—including rape, sexual slavery and the forced recruitment of children as soldiers. Outraged by stories of violence pouring in from the villages, Julienne and seven other women founded an organization called Female Solidarity for Integrated Peace and Development (SOFEPADI) in 2000. #16Days Read more: https://ajws.org/stories/30-at-30-celebrating-our-global-leaders-julienne-lusenge/

Mexican land and labor rights champion Alejandra Ancheita has brought hope to some of her country’s poorest and most disenfranchised citizens—migrants, workers and indigenous people—even in the face of violence. During her 17 years on the frontlines of her country’s land rights struggle, she and the organization she founded, ProDESC, have joined hands with indigenous communities to fight illegal mines and hold companies accountable for the damage they are causing to the land and the people who depend on it for survival. #16Days Read more: https://ajws.org/stories/30-at-30-celebrating-our-global-leaders-alejandra-ancheita/

In India, home to 1/3 of the world’s child brides, the Awaaz Foundation is raising awareness about women's rights. Nearly 100 girls attended a bike rally organized by Awaaz last spring, a visible act to push back against the limits that extremely conservative leaders want to place on girls. #16Days Read more: https://ajws.org/blog/riding-for-their-rights/

A 63-year-old mother of three from Grand Bassa County, Martha Flanjay Karnga is the executive director of Bassa Women’s Development Association (BAWODA Liberia)—an organization supported by AJWS that empowers Liberian women to take greater control of their lives and their families, assume local leadership positions, and influence political decision making. “Our main concerns are for women to know their rights and…to speak out,” says Martha. #16Days Read more: https://ajws.org/blog/force-nature-one-liberian-woman-inspiring-thousands-stand-rights/

In Guatemala, where birth control is taboo, abortion is illegal, and 44% of women become mothers by age 20, Incide Jóven sheds light on sexual health for youth and advocates to make sex education accessible. Here, Kendra Avilés distributes and discusses educational materials on sexual and reproductive rights at an event in San Lucas Sacatepéquez. #16Days Read more: https://ajws.org/stories/youth-network-for-political-advocacy-incide-joven/

Susanna Hla Hla Soe is a member of Burma’s Parliament. Before being elected, Susanna led AJWS grantee Karen Women’s Empowerment Group (KWEG), an organization that works to promote women's rights in Burma. KWEG advocates for improved policies regarding sexual violence and rape, teaches women about their rights, and shows them how to pursue legal action when they face violence. #16Days Read more: https://ajws.org/blog/witnessing-history-in-burma/

Dayanara, a trans woman from Nicaragua, came out to her family as transgender when she was a teenager. Ostracized by her parents and siblings, and thrown out of her home, Dayanara became a sex worker to support herself financially. She lived on the streets for years, developed a drug addiction and ended up in prison, where she was raped repeatedly. When Dayanara was released, she learned about the Association for Transgender Nicaraguans (ANIT), an organization supported by AJWS that primarily advocates for the rights of trans women. Dayanara is now a community leader with ANIT. #16Days Read more: https://ajws.org/stories/meet-dayanara/

Lu Bu Marip is a woman from Kachin State in northern Burma, where sexual violence, rape and the murder of women, girls and ethnic minorities is common. Her eldest daughter was tragically raped and murdered at just 21 years old. AJWS supports the Kachin Women's Association Thailand (KWAT), a local organization helping women like Lu Bu by promoting women's access to justice and advocating for women’s participation in politics. #16Days

Sandra Ntebi is a paralegal with Human Rights Awareness and Protection Forum (HRAPF), which provides free legal aid and education to LGBTI people, sex workers, and those living with HIV and AIDS in Uganda. She also serves as the Chairperson of the National Security of LGBTI Ugandans Committee and coordinates the hotline for reporting abuses against LGBTI people. She was one of several LGBTI people arrested during Pride celebrations in Uganda this past June. #16Days

SANGRAM, an NGO in India, empowers thousands of adults who chose sex work as their profession to advocate for their right to earn a living without the constant threat of violence and disease. These women distribute condoms, teach their peers self-defense, protest police brutality, and advocate for new laws that would create a safer work environment overall. #16Days

In Mexico City, Las Reinas Chulas —an organization supported by AJWS—uses cabaret theater to inspire action for the rights of women and lesbians. Through street performances, cabaret-theater performances and workshops for youth groups, Las Reinas Chulas delivers human rights messages students, housewives, teachers, taxi drivers, academics, artists, politicians, and other Mexican citizens.

The Mentoring and Empowerment Programme for Young Women (MEMPROW) —a Ugandan organization supported by AJWS— empowers, mentors and gives voice to girls and young women to advocate for their rights. They work to change the underlying causes of gender inequality, and provide spaces for young women and girls to learn from each other and from older generations about feminist leadership. Together, they are building a generation of women to speak out against social inequalities and injustices. Here, Dr. Hilda Tadria, founder and director, holds a sign for a #16Days event organized by MEMPROW.

“Growing up in Cambodia, I was instructed as a girl to be meek, to speak softly, to walk softly, to listen. Then I found my voice.” – Channsitha (Sitha) Mark, coordinator with Workers Information Center in Cambodia. WIC empowers women garment workers by training them to be involved in worker-led efforts to increase social services and protection for women in the garment industry and society at large. Watch this video of Sitha in action to improve the lives of women garment workers!

In Thailand, women and LGBT people have had few effective legal avenues to protect themselves against violence and discrimination. Last year, the Thai Transgender Alliance—an AJWS grantee—successfully advocated to pass the Gender Equality Act and is continuing to support transgender people throughout Thailand.