Sauti Yetu Center for African Women, Inc.

Mutual Support. Mutual Respect. Mutual Trust.

16 Days of Activism to End Gender-Based Violence

Activism in Action Calendar

At Sauti Yetu, we believe that meaningful, lasting change comes when we join together in learning, sharing our stories, and taking consistent action. This year, we invite you to join us in the 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-Based Violence using our Activism in Action Calendar. By taking one small step each day, we will carry forward a movement to create a safer world for all women.

The Actions for Activism calendar is meant to be a place for you to get started–to learn from the organizations that do this work every day and begin to build an understanding of the resources available.

Gender-based violence (GBV) is pervasive and complex—it takes on many different forms and impacts hundreds of millions of people around the world. What people define as violence or abuse—and how they respond—varies across geographic regions, cultures and religions. 

In recent years, we have started to improve our understanding of gender-based violence through academic and community research. We know that gender-based violence can affect anyone but that women and girls experience harm at higher rates than men. We know that over 40% of Black women experience intimate partner violence–a much higher rate than for women overall. We know that more than 230 million women in at least 30 countries have experienced female genital cutting.

But we still have a lot to learn and a long way to go in eliminating gender-based violence. This can feel overwhelming. Campaigns like Activism in Action and 16 Days help us place available information, as well as our feelings and reactions, into context and start to take action in a productive and positive way.

The 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-Based Violence campaign is a global movement built on the shared belief that we can create a world free from violence.

Since 1991, November 25th—the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women—has marked the first day of the annual “16 Days” campaign.

Awareness is key to bringing about change! One of the most important things you can do is learn the history of these days and campaigns.

Today’s Action: Get to Know the “16 Days” Campaign

Defining terms like gender-based violence is important. By describing what an issue is—and what it isn’t—the people who provide care, education and advocacy can better communicate, secure resources, propose policy, and help the people impacted navigate their experience.

While many organizations use slightly different wording, gender-based violence (GBV) is a term that refers to harm or threats made against a person due to their sex or gender—including their sex or gender itself, their sexual orientation, their gender identity, their gender expression, and related societal expectations. GBV can be physical, emotional, psychological, spiritual, sexual or financial. Domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and practices like female genital cutting are all considered types of GBV.

What people define as violence or abuse can vary across cultures, religions, and geographic regions. While anyone can be affected, data shows that women and girls are impacted the most.

Today’s Action: Learn More About Gender-Based Violence

Visit these websites—all of which have safe exit options—if you would like to learn more about gender-based violence and why it is so important that we talk about it.

Every woman is a pillar of strength and deserves to be celebrated for her power, her tenacity, and her courage. 

As we mark Thanksgiving in the United States, we are reminded that it is important to take a moment and reflect on the ways that we ourselves—and the people who inspire us—exhibit strength every day. Thank you for being you!

Today’s Action: Share a Moment of Thanks

Simply say thank you to yourself or someone you love! Reflect on how powerful these two words—and the moments they create—can be!

A powerful way to support efforts to address and end gender-based violence is to support the organizations that do this work! 

Join Sauti Yetu for Connecting Cultures: An Event to Celebrate Jollof!

Sauti Yetu is excited to present this unique evening of great food, music, shopping and community.

The event will feature Nigerian and Ghanaian jollof, a traditional West African dish of rice, vegetables and spices. Vote for your favorite while dancing to Afrobeats, shopping local vendors and much more.

6 PM – 8 PM on Friday, December 5th in the Community Room @ New Settlement Apartments in the Bronx

Proceeds will directly support Sauti Yetu’s Violence Against Women & Girls program.

Today’s Action: Get Your Tickets Before They’re Gone!

Click here to get all the details and buy your tickets for Connecting Cultures! Can’t make it? You can still donate to support our work on the same website.

We can’t wait to see you there!

We hear the word “ally” all the time. By definition, an ally is a person who uses their own power or privilege to support people affected by challenges that are different from their own.

Allyship is important – but we also know that it can sometimes come with unintentional harm. To help family, friends, community members and others impacted by gender-based violence—especially if it’s not something we’ve experienced ourselves—we must think carefully about how we offer support.

Today’s Action: Check Out this Allyship Toolkit

The New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence has a toolkit called, “Start the Conversation: Be a Better Ally.” It’s a great resource related to many of the actions in this calendar.

Raising awareness doesn’t have to mean attending big events or launching major campaigns—it can start by having a conversation with someone you trust. 

Today’s Action: Get 10 Tips for Having a Conversation

The National Network to End Domestic Violence offers 10 Tips to Have an Informed Conversation About Domestic Violence. Check them out before you begin!

You can also refer back to the New York State Office of DV Prevention Toolkit from yesterday’s action!

Sauti Yetu’s Case Managers and Social Workers support women affected by gender-based violence each and every day. Recently, our Case Manager shared, in her own words, Ada’s story.

Today’s Action: Meet Ada

“The Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) program recently welcomed Ada,* a client who fled from an abusive relationship and arrived in New York without any resources or access to stable housing. We were able to get her and her children set up with warm winter clothes as the temperatures were quickly dropping in New York City, as well as placement in a safe, family-oriented shelter environment. We were able to serve this client in her native language, as linguistically and culturally responsive services are pillars of Sauti Yetu’s core values. 

Once the client was settled with the necessities for herself and her children, the VAWG program continued to support her by connecting her with local resources to address her needs. In a matter of days, the VAWG program connected her with legal services to navigate her ongoing court hearings with her abusive ex-partner, enrolled her in English classes to help her attain her goal of one day attending college, reviewed and edited her resume and assisted her with her job search, and referred her to counselling services. 

The VAWG program is now assisting the client with securing safe and stable housing outside the shelter system and with her continuing job search. The VAWG program has been a resource for the client to seek help and express her needs. The VAWG program has been a safe space for the client to share her feelings on days where life’s challenges felt insurmountable. And more than anything, the VAWG program has been able to connect with this client on a deeply impactful level, by supporting her in feeling empowered in her next steps, and helping her reach her goals by reminding her that she is important and valued.”

*Name changed to protect confidentiality.

It’s Giving Tuesday! Support an Organization that Provides Care to Experiencers of Gender-Based Violence

There are so many incredible organizations that provide assistance—such as crisis intervention, counseling, and education—to girls and women who have experienced gender- based violence. Goals of this care can include helping women leave abuse situations, access resources like safe housing, and heal from trauma. We encourage you to support any organization you believe in!

Donations to Sauti Yetu in November and December 2025 will go directly to supporting our Violence Against Women & Girls (VAWG) program. 

Today’s Action: Make Giving Tuesday Count! 

If you are able, we appreciate donations of any size! Your generosity helps make our work possible.

We understand that not everyone is able to make a financial contribution. You can also support us by spreading the word about our work!

Support or Share Now

It can be extremely difficult when you suspect or know that someone you care about is in an unhealthy or dangerous relationship. Your instincts may tell you to offer help, and this is important—but just like with being an ally, it’s important to know how to offer support.

Today’s Action: Learn Sauti Yetu’s “Dos and Don’ts of Support” 

If You or Someone You Know Needs Assistance

These resources are meant to be helpful guides. They do not substitute for the advice of a clinical professional like a doctor or counselor. If you or a loved one needs help, you can:

Cultural and social norms impact how we think about health, safety, relationships–and yes, gender-based violence. As we have conversations about these challenging topics and provide care in our communities, it is important to be humble, curious and compassionate. When we understand someone else’s experience, it can help us offer the care and support that will work best for them.

At Sauti Yetu, we often use the phrase, “supporting the person–not the practice.” There is a difference between being okay with harmful actions and recognizing that each person may have complex feelings about their experiences because of their culture.

Today’s Action Item: Check Out The Hands Project

The Hands Project is Sauti Yetu’s program for girls and women affected by female genital cutting. We can provide support if you or someone you know has concerns related to FGC, and the project’s website is an example of cultural attunement in action.


To learn more about cultural humility, you can check out the University of Oregon’s What is Cultural Humility? resource.

Today’s the day! You can still buy tickets up until the event begins at 6 PM (we’ll update this if we sell out). 

Today’s Action: Come Enjoy the Event!

Learn More & Buy Tickets

Stay Safe Online

The theme of UN Women’s 2025 16 Days campaign is #NoExcuse for Online Abuse. Everyone deserves to be just as safe online as they do in person.

Today’s Action: Get Your Online Safety 101

Take a quick refresher on staying safe online with UN Women’s “What Every Woman Should Know” here.

Social media, of course, is where so many of our conversations take place in 2025. If this is your place and space–and you feel comfortable–you can help raise awareness by creating your own content or sharing reputable, respectful posts from organizations you trust.

Today’s Action: Make the Most of Your Post

When you post on social media about the 16 Days of Activism, use the hashtags:

  • #16days
  • #16DaysofActivism
  • #16DaysofActivismAgainstGenderBasedViolence
  • #EndGBV
  • #NoExcuse

And don’t forget to tag us @SautiYetuNYC !

Many people who experience gender-based violence also experience trauma. It is extremely important that the care they receive acknowledges and accounts for this trauma.

Providing trauma-informed care is a process–not an end point. It starts with understanding what trauma is, considering how the care we provide intersects with trauma (for example, could the care we provide result in retraumatization?), and letting our clients lead the way.

Today’s Action: Be BRAVE!

The “BRAVE” framework is a helpful guide to being trauma informed. If you’d like to dig deeper into trauma-informed approaches, check out SAMHSA or the Trauma-Informed Care Implementation Resource Center.

We are so grateful for the support you have shown Sauti Yetu throughout the 16 Days of Activism. Our work to support and advocate for survivors of gender-based violence, domestic violence, and sexual assault would not be possible without you.

Today’s Action: Make a Donation or Share Our Campaign

If you haven’t yet–and you are able–please consider making a donation to Sauti Yetu. Donations in November and December 2025 will go directly to supporting our Violence Against Women & Girls (VAWG) program.

We understand that not everyone is able to make a financial contribution. You can also support us by spreading the word about our work!

Support or Share Now

As the 16 Days of Activism to End GBV comes to an end in 2025, on Human Rights Day, we are thinking about all of the ways we can use what we’ve learned going forward. 

Today’s Action: Stay in Touch & Curious

  • Join Sauti Yetu’s email list to learn more about our work and events throughout the year. Join Now
  • The CUNY School of Public Health launched the From 16 to 365 Days of Activism to End GBV in 2024. Follow along on Instagram
  • Stay curious – the resources shared in this calendar are available year round. You can reach out to Sauti Yetu anytime with questions or for help. Contact Us

If you or someone you know needs immediate assistance, please call 911.

Request Help From SAUTI YETU
National Domestic Violence Hotline
Ujima: The National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community