To increase awareness, galvanize advocacy efforts, and share knowledge and innovations; this year the UNiTE campaign is marking the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence, from 25 November to 10 December, under the theme, ‘Orange the World: Generation Equality Stands against Rape!’ This year the colour orange will unify all to bring global attention to the Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV). This includes rape in conflict, as well as other issues, such as campus violence, rape within homes and domestic violence issues, rape and sexual harassment in public spaces, or issues like child marriage. It will also explore the larger issue of rape culture and consent.

Uniting with the theme of this global campaign, all the partners, donors and stakeholders of ASTHA project – Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Ain o Salish Kendra, Gana Unnayan Kendra (GUK), Sabalamby Unnayan Samity (SUS), Shushilan, Young Power in Social Action (YPSA) and Mukti Cox’s Bazar will together observe the campaign collaborating with the same spirit to raise awareness on violence against women.
This campaign is going to be observed at national and district level with the aim of a massive awareness raising and interactive events. At National level an event will be organized at Dhanmondi Rabindra Sarabor where different activities will take place such as: Self-defense demonstration, storytelling, drama, flash mobs etc. And at the district level: oath taking ceremony to prevent campus sexual harassment, mass gathering, rally, human chain, drama show, film show, workshop with journalists, discussion with religious leaders, Nari Nirjaton Protirodh Committee (NNPC) gathering, female football tournament, wall painting, debate and painting competition, distributing Joyita award, photo exhibition etc.
These events will be joined by the mass people (Women, men, girls, boys), multi-sectoral public service providers (national, districts and Upazila level), religious leaders, journalists, youth, students, activists, policy makers, law enforcers, CSOs, practitioners, local leaders, politicians, teachers, and parents.
These events will help to raise a collective (generations) voice against the adverse effect of GBV, particularly on sexual violence and rape culture, also will create opportunities for advocacy and media mobilization. The activities with different service providers will help to start a dialogue to motivate the multi-sectoral service providers, lawyers, judges to initiate to resolve the GBV related cases at earliest. It is also hoping that the oath taking ceremony will motivate the school authorities to take initiative to follow the high court’s directives and form sexual harassment committee and complaint box in their respective schools.