In 2018, from November 25th  to December 10th (Human Rights Day) there will be the “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign” to promote the ending of violences against women and girls around the world. The  campaign aims to avoid silence and stigma that may promote violence against women: “the time for change is here and now”. Many campaigns have been carried out worldwide to encourage physically or psychologically abused women to tell their stories.

In 2008, the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s, promoted the “UNiTE to End Violence against Women” campaign; in 2018 the global advocacy theme is: Orange the World: #HearMeToo

“The UNiTE partners are encouraged to host events with local, national, regional and global women’s movements, survivor advocates and women human rights defenders and create opportunities for dialogue between activists, policy-makers and the public. As in previous years, the colour orange will be a key theme unifying all activities, with buildings and landmarks lit and decorated in orange to bring global attention to the initiative” (LINK).

In Novara (Italy), every year, our Section member Patrizia Zeppegno organizes a cultural half-day event at UPO University to reflect about violence against women, using a movie on this topic and then discussing about it with students, residents, professors, specialists, clinicians and administrative staff. It will be on  November 26th from 10.00 to 13.00 pm and the main theme will be “There is a moment you have to decide: you can be the princess that needs to be saved or the warrior that saves herself…”.