Loud it! #16DaysOfActivism2023 in Nigeria Bulletin

The 16 Days of Activism, observed annually from November 25th to December 10th, commemorates the Mirabal sisters, political activists brutally murdered in 1960 under the Trujillo dictatorship in the Dominican Republic. Their deaths led to the establishment of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in Latin America in 1980, later recognized globally by the UN in 1999. The campaign, initiated at the Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991, aims to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls worldwide.

The theme for 2023 was “UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls”. This year, UN Women and its partners carried out diverse strategic multisectoral activities and multimedia productions to reach millions with a simple message—end violence against women and girls.

Many initiatives and events were happening for the first time this year. This includes a coordinated campaign against GBV in the states, with First Ladies participating; this is a result of the regional GEWE coordination platforms earlier established by UN Women and ministries of women's affairs, and a capacity-building workshop on ending violence against women and girls for 19 first-time First Ladies. UN Women also held the maiden edition of the UN Women Nigeria Media Partners Conference to build a media coalition against GBV. Additionally, collaborations with the Council of Traditional Leaders in Nigeria led to town hall meetings and informative billboards featuring messages from traditional rulers.

This bulletin is a peek into the 2023 campaign!