16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence opens

The 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence, an annual international campaign, started in the country on Saturday, aiming to prevent violence against women and girls.
The campaign was started by activists at the inauguration of the Women's Global Leadership Institute in 1991 as an organising strategy by individuals and organisations around the world to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.
In support of this civil society initiative, the United Nations Secretary-General launched in 2008 the campaign UNITE by 2030 to end violence against women, which runs parallel to the 16 Days of Activism.
This year the theme is: "UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls."
The campaign calls on citizens to show how much they care about ending violence against women and girls by sharing the actions they are taking to create a world free from violence towards women.
This year's campaign also calls on governments worldwide to share how they are investing in gender-based violence prevention.
The ministry concerned and various women and human rights bodies organised different programmes to observe the fortnight till December 10.
Bangladesh Mahila Parisad at a press conference at the National Press Club on Saturday declared its programme with the theme "Unite to End Violence against Women and Girls, Invest to Prevent." BMP President Dr Fauzia Moslem spoke among others.

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