Take Action
Individual action
- Talk to women about their human rights (everyone is born with rights that no-one can take away from them - the right to life, liberty and security of person, the right to dignity, freedom of thought and opinion, & freedom from torture and fear etc.)
- Report the stories of individual women that give examples of human rights violations
- Promote the facts on all forms of violence against women
- Raise the issue of gender-bias in the way that the state is dealing with domestic violence, sexual violence and other forms of violence against women – especially where victims are not protected and abusers not held accountable
- Explicitly make the links between domestic violence, rape & sexual assault, stranger murder of women, child sexual abuse, forced prostitution, trafficking of women for the purposes of marriage, sexual exploitation, sexual harassment, and honour crimes
- Highlight the links between violence against women in New Zealand and gender-based violence in other countries
- Encourage all of our communities and our nation to see how violence against women affects us all and must end now
- Make use the resources on this site and connect with those around the country and the world who are also working to end violence against women.
Collective campaigns
Thursdays In Black
Thursdays In Black is an international movement to demand a world without rape and violence. The campaign has links with several anti-violence movements such as Mothers of the Disappeared in Argentina, Black Sash in South Africa and the Women in Black movements in Bosnia and Israel.
The World Council of Churches promoted Thursdays in Black as a campaign for women’s human rights in the 1980s.
Thursdays in Black links rape and violence against women in war, with the war on women that is waged even in peace time, in homes, streets and communities around the world.
In the mid 1990s the Women’s Coalition of the New Zealand University Students' Association began to promote the campaign in this country, encouraging people to
challenge the attitudes that cause rape and violence, and take action.
Visit the New Zealand University Students Association website on Thursdays In Black
V-Day
End Violence Against Women on Valentine’s Day
14 February
V-day is a global movement to stop violence against women. V-Day involves performances of the Vagina Monologues, and other awareness raising events on Valentine’s Day.
White Ribbon Day: International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
25 November
White Ribbon Day is an international day focused on men working to end men’s violence to women.
Wearing a white ribbon is a personal pledge to never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women and girls.
White Ribbon Day was started by a group of Canadian men in 1991. Since then, people around the world have developed campaigns and activities aimed at encouraging men and boys to speak out against men’s violence towards women.
The day has been officially adopted by the United Nations as its International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) introduced the campaign to New Zealand.
For information on white ribbon days in other English Speaking countries see:
http://www.whiteribbon.ca/
http://www.whiteribbonday.org.au/
http://www.whiteribboncampaign.co.uk/
http://www.whiteribbonscotland.org.uk/
16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence
25 November to 10 December
The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence is an international campaign that started in 1991 from the first Women's Global Leadership Institute.
The 16 Days of Activism runs from 25 November (International Day Against Violence Against Women) and 10 December (International Human Rights Day).
In those 16 days, women’s rights and human rights activists around the world run campaigns and events that focus on women’s human rights.
Thursdays In Black is an international movement to demand a world without rape and violence. The campaign has links with several anti-violence movements such as Mothers of the Disappeared in Argentina, Black Sash in South Africa and the Women in Black movements in Bosnia and Israel.
The World Council of Churches promoted Thursdays in Black as a campaign for women’s human rights in the 1980s.
Thursdays in Black links rape and violence against women in war, with the war on women that is waged even in peace time, in homes, streets and communities around the world.
In the mid 1990s the Women’s Coalition of the New Zealand University Students' Association began to promote the campaign in this country, encouraging people to
challenge the attitudes that cause rape and violence, and take action.
Visit the New Zealand University Students Association website on Thursdays In Black
V-Day
End Violence Against Women on Valentine’s Day
14 February
V-day is a global movement to stop violence against women. V-Day involves performances of the Vagina Monologues, and other awareness raising events on Valentine’s Day.
White Ribbon Day: International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
25 November
White Ribbon Day is an international day focused on men working to end men’s violence to women.
Wearing a white ribbon is a personal pledge to never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women and girls.
White Ribbon Day was started by a group of Canadian men in 1991. Since then, people around the world have developed campaigns and activities aimed at encouraging men and boys to speak out against men’s violence towards women.
The day has been officially adopted by the United Nations as its International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) introduced the campaign to New Zealand.
For information on white ribbon days in other English Speaking countries see:
http://www.whiteribbon.ca/
http://www.whiteribbonday.org.au/
http://www.whiteribboncampaign.co.uk/
http://www.whiteribbonscotland.org.uk/
16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence
25 November to 10 December
The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence is an international campaign that started in 1991 from the first Women's Global Leadership Institute.
The 16 Days of Activism runs from 25 November (International Day Against Violence Against Women) and 10 December (International Human Rights Day).
In those 16 days, women’s rights and human rights activists around the world run campaigns and events that focus on women’s human rights.
Toolkits for advocates and activists
Toolkit to End Violence Against Women
Produced by the USA National Advisory Council on Violence Against Women, this range of fact sheets provides an overview of particular areas where communities, policy leaders, and individuals can take action to make a difference - much information is relevant to NZ.
The toolkit includes information on:
White Ribbon Day Nov 25
Australian website on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women that provides education kits, pamphlets, factsheets and information about how men can work to end violence against women.
Produced by the USA National Advisory Council on Violence Against Women, this range of fact sheets provides an overview of particular areas where communities, policy leaders, and individuals can take action to make a difference - much information is relevant to NZ.
The toolkit includes information on:
- Community-Based Services and Advocacy for Victims
- Health and Mental Health Care Systems' Responses
- Response of the Justice System: Civil and Criminal
- Women's Economic Security
- Promoting Safety and Nonviolence on University Campuses
- Promoting Safety and Nonviolence in the Workplace
- Intervention and Prevention for Children and Youth
- Educating and Mobilizing the Public About Violence Against Women
- Engaging the Media, Advertising, and Entertainment Industries
- Engaging Religious, Spiritual, and Faith-Based Groups and Organizations
- Promoting Healthy, Nonviolent Attitudes and Behaviors Through Sports
- Nation to Nation: Promoting the Safety of Native Women
- The Role of the Military
- Responding to Trafficking in Persons
White Ribbon Day Nov 25
Australian website on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women that provides education kits, pamphlets, factsheets and information about how men can work to end violence against women.
Informative and inspiring links
End Violence Against Women
End Violence Against Women
UK advocacy group working to end violence against women, including UK refuges and women’s aid groups
Ending violence against women
Oxfam New Zealand
Oxfam NZ works with partners in the Asia Pacific to address gender equity and violence against women issues
NOW and violence against women
US National Organisation for Women
Includes latest US news related to violence against women, a list of NOW activities and campaigns including information on violence against women on campus and sexual harassment.
Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, its causes and consequences
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
In 1994 the United Nations agreed to appoint the special rapporteur to gather information, make recommendations and work closely with other special rapporteurs to end violence against women.
Stop Violence Against Women
Advocates for Human Rights
A forum for information, advocacy and change and designed as a tool for the promotion of women's human rights in countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the former Soviet Union (FSU). Includes information on:
Domestic Violence
Sexual Assault
Sexual Harassment
Trafficking in Women
Stop Violence Against Women
Amnesty International
Amnesty's campaign site that recognises a life free from violence as a basic human right. Provides a global overview of national legislature relating to VAW, state perpetration of VAW and other issues.
Violence Against Women
United Nations Development Fund for Women
An international perspective on violence against women, looking at the role of the UN and with quick facts and figures on violence against women.
White Ribbon Day
NZ Families Commission
Further resources on White Ribbon Day with a particular focus on the role men can play in ending violence against women.
End Violence Against Women
UK advocacy group working to end violence against women, including UK refuges and women’s aid groups
Ending violence against women
Oxfam New Zealand
Oxfam NZ works with partners in the Asia Pacific to address gender equity and violence against women issues
NOW and violence against women
US National Organisation for Women
Includes latest US news related to violence against women, a list of NOW activities and campaigns including information on violence against women on campus and sexual harassment.
Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, its causes and consequences
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
In 1994 the United Nations agreed to appoint the special rapporteur to gather information, make recommendations and work closely with other special rapporteurs to end violence against women.
Stop Violence Against Women
Advocates for Human Rights
A forum for information, advocacy and change and designed as a tool for the promotion of women's human rights in countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the former Soviet Union (FSU). Includes information on:
Domestic Violence
Sexual Assault
Sexual Harassment
Trafficking in Women
Stop Violence Against Women
Amnesty International
Amnesty's campaign site that recognises a life free from violence as a basic human right. Provides a global overview of national legislature relating to VAW, state perpetration of VAW and other issues.
Violence Against Women
United Nations Development Fund for Women
An international perspective on violence against women, looking at the role of the UN and with quick facts and figures on violence against women.
White Ribbon Day
NZ Families Commission
Further resources on White Ribbon Day with a particular focus on the role men can play in ending violence against women.
Join the Roundtable
Whether you'd like to get actively involved, support us financially, stay in touch with what we're doing, or think you have a good relevant link for our site we'd love you to contact us.