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Orange symbolises hope for a world free from gender violence, according to a UN campaign that is lighting up buildings around the world to highlight the issue. Photograph: Ryan Brown/UN Women/UN Press office
Orange symbolises hope for a world free from gender violence, according to a UN campaign that is lighting up buildings around the world to highlight the issue. Photograph: Ryan Brown/UN Women/UN Press office

16 days of activism to end violence against women – share your stories

This article is more than 9 years old

Are you taking part in the campaign to challenge attitudes to gender-based violence?

Campaigners around the world are uniting for 16 days of activism to challenge attitudes on violence against women and girls. The campaign began on Tuesday to mark the UN’s international day for the elimination of violence against women, and will end on human rights day on 10 December.

Organisers are encouraging community activists, NGOs, businesses and governments to join a local campaign or lead their own. Events include a youth campaign taking anti-violence messages to the streets of Cambodia and film screenings in Uganda depicting what life is like for women. The UN is encouraging people to turn their neighbourhoods orange, the colour of the campaign.

The 16 days of activism aim to build momentum for next year’s 20th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action, at which global leaders committed to ending violence against women in all its forms. One in three women experience physical or sexual violence at the hands of their partner.

If you’re taking part in the 16 days of activism campaign, we want to hear from you. Send us your photos, stories or video via GuardianWitness and we’ll include our favourites in our coverage of the campaign.

GuardianWitness is the home of content created by Guardian readers. Share your video, pictures and stories, and browse contributions submitted by others. Posts will be reviewed prior to publication on GuardianWitness, and the best pieces will feature on the Guardian site.

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