The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence was started by activists at the inauguration of the Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991.

Three decades on, the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence against Gender-Based Violence is a widely recognised global campaign that encourages action to end gender-based violence.

During the 16 Days, organisations and individuals around the world raise awareness that men’s violence against women in a fundamental violation of human rights.

RESPECT IS...

Respect is building healthy, equal relationships. It’s seeking enthusiastic consent. It’s promoting equality in your workplace and your sports club. It’s making it clear that violence against women, and all forms of gender-based violence are unacceptable.

It’s calling in your mate when they’ve said or done something harmful, and role modelling healthy ideas of what it means to be a man. Respect is knowing that you can help prevent violence against women.

Everyone deserves to be safe, equal and respected.

But right now in Australia, that isn’t the reality. More than 1 in 3 women have experienced men’s violence. On average, a woman is killed by a man she knows every 10 days, and in 2024 that number is much higher. Safety for women is not a given in any community – and neither is respect.

Not all disrespect leads to violence against women – but all violence against women begins with disrespect.

All of us have the power to change that by respecting women wherever we live, learn, work and play.