The Dumfries and Galloway Domestic Abuse and Violence Against Women Partnership (D&GDAVAWP) has launched its programme of events for 16 Days of Action Against Gender-Based Violence.
16 Days of Action is an international campaign that starts every year on 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) and finishes on 10 December (Human Rights Days) making a link between several forms of violence and human rights violations.
The term Gender Based Violence comprises several abusive practices that mainly affect women and girls including: domestic abuse; rape and sexual assault; sexual harassment; stalking; harmful traditional practices like forced marriage,; and the commercial sexual exploitation e.g. sex trafficking, prostitution, pornography.
The D&GDAVAWP has put the following awareness raising programme for 16 Days of Action; events are free and open to anyone over the age of 16.
Daniel McKeever, D&GDAVAWP Interim Chair said: “Despite continued international efforts, violence against women and girls for example domestic abuse, rape, commercial sexual exploitation, continue to be of epidemic proportions. Hundreds of millions of women and girls all over the world and thousands in Scotland including Dumfries and Galloway are affected by these forms of violence. It requires a concerted effort to end these forms of violence; all sectors of society need to get involved; so I would like to invite the Dumfries and Galloway Residents to come to our events and/or to follow and participate in our Social Media Campaign during 16 days of Action. Together we can end domestic abuse and all these other forms of violence against women and girls.”
