The “16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence” campaign gets underway today with activities at International Rescue Committee offices around the world.
“This is a truly global campaign to support women and girls to live their lives free from sexual and physical violence,” said Heidi Lehmann, the IRC’s senior technical advisor for gender based violence.
The November 25-December 10 campaign’s theme, “Human Rights for Women—Human Rights for All: the 60th Anniversary of the UN Declaration of Human Rights,” emphasizes the protection and promotion of women’s human rights.
IRC “16 Days” Events
The IRC will mark the start of 16 Days with a panel discussion on Tuesday, November 25 at 1 PM at its New York headquarters highlighting how the IRC is working to help realize the human rights of women and girls in Thailand.
Among the many other activities at IRC headquarters and around the world:
Parades, marches and celebrations will be held in IRC country programs in Liberia, South Sudan and Uganda. In Burundi, an opening ceremony and march will be followed by a football match. In Liberia, football and kickball tournaments will be held along with drawing, essay, singing and drama competitions.
Film screenings will take place honoring courageous women in film: “Child Brides: Stolen Lives” (New York); “The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo” (London); and a film screening and discussion on HIV/AIDS and gender based violence (Kampala, Uganda and Moroto, Liberia). Brown bag discussions will be held on topics such as “Women and girls rebuilding nations in West Africa” (New York); roundtables will be focused on issues such as “What the U.S. can do to address violence against women in crises” (Washington, D.C.) and the role of donors in GBV activities (Brussels); and a panel discussion with the IRC's field staff and other partners about working to mitigate violence against women around the world."
Beyond Firewood
Harvesting firewood away from the security of camps makes millions of refugee and displaced women and girls terrifyingly easy targets.
On December 8, The IRC’s affiliate, the Women’s Commission for Refugee Women and Children, will hold its inaugural Julia Taft Lecture with speaker Stephen Lewis. “Beyond Firewood: Stopping Violence against Women in the Developing World” will be held at Marymount Manhattan College in New York.
The IRC’s New York headquarters will also feature a photo exhibit for Human Rights Day on December 10.
The first international research conference dedicated to firewood and alternative cooking fuels and technologies in humanitarian settings will commence immediately following the 16 Days. Beyond Firewood will take place on December 11 and 12 at the Hyatt Regency in New Delhi, India. Hosted by the Women’s Commission, the conference will bring together researchers and technical experts to investigate the use of alternatives to firewood in an effort to help reduce the risk of violence against women in refugee or internally displaced persons (IDP) camps around the world.
The IRC’s Web site (www.theIRC.org) will feature essays on the firewood crisis as well as challenges faced by refugee women along the Thailand/Myanmar border.
For a complete list of events with descriptions, dates and times, please contact:
Heidi Chase
Heidi.chase@theIRC.org
+1.212.551.2933
