16 Days Activism&Gender Based Violence November 25th to December 10th
Orange the World Campaign 2024
Theme: Safety Everywhere and Always
Fellow Girl Guides, partners, and advocates for gender equality, as we join the global community in launching the 2024 “Orange the World” campaign, under the theme Safety Everywhere and Always, we unite in raising our voices against gender-based violence, declaring that safety for women and girls is not a privilege it is a right.
Violence against women and girls can happen anywhere: at home, at work, in schools, on the streets, in sports, at festivals, and even in places where we expect peace and security. Every environment should be safe, but for many women and girls, it is not.
Consider this heartbreaking statistic: every 10 minutes, a woman is killed due to violence. This is not just a number; it represents lives tragically cut short, dreams unfulfilled, and families torn apart. There is no excuse for violence against women. We must take collective and deliberate actions to ensure that women and girls everywhere can live without fear.
Since its inception in 2008 by the United Nations Secretary-General, the UNITE to End Violence Against Women and Girls Campaign has served as a clarion call to eliminate all forms of violence against women by the year 2030. This campaign reminds us of the urgency and the responsibility we bear to achieve this vision.
The signature colour of the campaign is orange, and it is a symbol of hope, brightness, and optimism, which represents a future free from violence against women and girls. For the next 16 days, from November 25th to December 10th, we will wear orange as a visible commitment to this cause. These days, spanning from the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women to Human Rights Day, signify that ending gender-based violence is a fundamental human right issue.
This year, as we approach Beijing +30, we reflect on the progress made since the landmark Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action while recognising the work still ahead. The United Nations’ theme, “Towards Beijing +30: UNITE to End Violence Against Women and Girls,” underscores the need for sustained global efforts.
The Nigerian Girl Guides Association
