16 Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women and Girls
16 Days of Activism is an international campaign backed by the United Nations and organisations around the world, calling for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls (VAWG).
The campaign runs every year from November 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) until December 10 (International Human Rights Day).
16 Days gives everyone the opportunity to come together to increase awareness of VAWG, promote a zero tolerance approach, and support the rights of women and girls.
Key themes for 2022 are #What Next?, focusing on involving boys and men, and #Light Up, which will concentrate on activities designed to promote the visibility of the campaign, such as lighting up a window in orange.
Designed to link in with a series of national spotlight events organised by the National VAW Network 16 Days campaign, a calendar of local events is also being jointly promoted by Midlothian and East Lothian through their VAWG delivery group.
Getting under way with a virtual launch learning session on November 25 - What Next? Time To Get Our Men and Boys Involved - the events programme also includes a range of talks, visits, roadshow and workshops for residents, professionals, and school students and staff.
Midlothian events
Friday 25 November 1300-1530
Launch Event What Next? Time to get our men and boys involved.
Venue: MS Teams
Audience: Workforce and Volunteers
Organiser: EMPPO / 16 Days Planning Group
Key contacts: Veronica Campanile vcampanile@eastlothian.gov.uk; Kirsty Henderson emppo@eastlothian.gov.uk
Monday 28 November 1100-1200
Briefing - Learning about Black and Minority Ethnic Women’s Experiences of Honour Based Abuse
Venue: MS Teams
Audience: Workforce
Organiser: Shakti Women’s Aid / EMPPO
Key contacts: Kirsty Henderson – Bookings emppo@eastlothian.gov.uk
Wednesday 30 November 1200-1300
Launch Your Vision: Support for Young Women in East Lothian – understanding experiences of unhealthy relationships and how services can be more supportive.
Venue: MS Teams
Audience: Workforce
Organiser: Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre, Women’s Aid East and Midlothian, YWCA Scotland.
Key contacts: Anna Carr, Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre Anna.carr@ercc.scot
Monday 5 December 0930-1200
Training: Understanding VAWG: Spotlight on Domestic Abuse (part 1)
Venue: MS Teams
Audience: Workforce
Organiser: EMPPO / WAEML
Key contacts: Kirsty Henderson (bookings) emppo@eastlothian.gov.uk
Thursday 8 December 0930-1200
Training Understanding VAWG: Spotlight on Domestic Abuse (part 2)
Venue: MS Teams
Audience: Workforce
Organiser: EMPPO / WAEML
Key contacts: Kirsty Henderson (bookings) emppo@eastlothian.gov.uk
Friday 9 December 1400-1600
Open event: Whose blame is it anyway? Featuring a dramatic presentation on victim blaming; STRENGTH – Housing First project for East Lothian and WAEML’s AGM
Venue: Fisherrow Centre, Musselburgh
Audience: Residents & stakeholders in Midlothian and East Lothian
Organiser: WAEML
Key contacts: Julie Watson julie@womensaideml.org / Nancy Ross - Registration nancy@womensaideml.org
Roadshow events
Members of the public can also come along and find out more at following roadshow events, hosted by Police Scotland. Contact PS Michele Lindsay Michele.Lindsay@scotland.police.uk for further details.
Monday 28 November 1000-1200
Partnership Roadshow highlighting the 16 Days of Activism
Asda Straiton
Monday 28 November 1300-1500
Partnership Roadshow highlighting the 16 Days of Activism
Tesco Hardengreen
Thursday 1 December 1000-1200
Partnership Roadshow highlighting the 16 Days of Activism
Lidl, Dalkeith
Thursday 1 December 1200-1500
Partnership Roadshow highlighting the 16 Days of Activism
Aldi, Dalkeith
Get involved
You can also get involved with the campaign by:
- Downloading this MS Teams meeting background and use it to show your support for the campaign.
- Sign the White Ribbon pledge using this template pledge card and post it on a wall or on social media. An example pledge could be: “I pledge to talk to my peers about the way we think and talk about women and girls.
- You can also make a pledge online without having to use the template by clicking here.
- Light up a window in orange to show support for the campaign and share an image on your social media.
For further information email Veronica Campanile, VAWG Coordinator, EMPPO: vcampanile@eastlothian.gov.uk