All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. Today, Human Rights Day, the day commemorating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, marks the end of the International Campaign 16 Days against Violence against Women. Over the past 16 days, organizations and activists around the world have made it clear that women's rights are human rights. Gender-based violence is always a violation of human rights.
What does it take to prevent violence and support victims of violence in leading a life free of violence? "Ways out of violence" was the focus of this year's nationwide campaign against violence against women coordinated by Frieda. Mission 21 in Basel has posted on the Instagram channel gender.mission21 as well as on Facebook and Linkedin from 25 November to 10 December about activities and offers from partner organizations on sexualized violence and raises awareness of the issue.
"Above all, we need to reform legal systems so that violence against women can also be prosecuted," says Paska Aciya Nimiriano, project manager in South Sudan and member of Mission 21's Gender Justice Advisory Board. Various organizations and female leaders in Mission 21's network have been working tenaciously for decades to prevent violence and improve the situation of those affected. In South Sudan, for example, sexualized violence has been used as a weapon of war in the war that has been raging since 2013. PCOSS, Mission 21's partner church in South Sudan, is committed to combating this. It is an important peace actor that promotes the development of non-violent relationships.
Gender-based violence is widespread in all social classes and also in countries without war - whether in Europe, Latin America, Asia or Africa. In Basel, Mission 21 has organized a self-defence course in cooperation with Wen Do Basel for interested female and non-binary employees as part of the 16 Days campaign. Self-defence courses are also used by our partner organizations as a method to encourage women and girls in particular to be aware of their own boundaries, to set boundaries and to react when these are disregarded.
The social media campaign on the Instagram channel gender.mission21 was implemented by Sandy Gmuer, intern at the Women and Gender Mission 21 staff unit, political scientist and gender researcher. Sandy Gmuer says about this experience: "It was very motivating and instructive to make the work of partner organizations and different ways out of violence visible. Dealing with the reality that women and non-binary people in Switzerland and around the world experience this violence in all life situations is always upsetting. It was therefore important for me to show that the fight against sexualized violence also has global synergies."
What can you do?
- Mission 21 offers presentations and courses on the topic of gender equality. In the new Education program 2025 for example, you can book the courses "Equal rights for all" and "With courage against hate speech".
- We look forward to receiving your donation for our work in the field of gender-based violence. You can find our projects here: https://www.mission-21.org/gegen-gewalt-an-frauen/
- Follow gender.mission21 on Instagram, Facebook or Linkedin
