FROM November 25 — recognised as International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (IDEVAW) — to December 10, we’re marking 16 days of activism to end gender-based violence under the 2025 theme, “UNiTE to end digital violence against all women and girls”.

Violence against women and girls affects one in three women, the United Nations (UN) warns. And it is a global human rights emergency that must stop.

16 Days of Activism: #NoExcuse for online abuse

The UN says online and digital spaces should empower women and girls, hence the theme chosen for 2025. Every day, for millions of women and girls, the digital world has become a minefield of harassment, abuse and control.

Thus, during the 16 days, all are asked to join the UNiTE campaign and take action to stop digital abuse against women and girls.

What is digital abuse?

Digital tools are increasingly being used to stalk, harass and abuse women and girls. This includes image-based abuse, non-consensual sharing of intimate images, cyberbullying, trolling and online threats, to name a few.

These acts don’t just happen online. They often lead to offline violence in real life such as coercion, physical abuse and even femicide —the killing of women and girls.

What does the 2025 UNiTE campaign call for?

The campaign calls for all people to act to stop digital abuse. It calls on governments to pass and enforce laws that criminalise digital violence, protect personal information and strengthen tech sector accountability, and for donors to invest in feminist organisations working to end violence against women, as well as in digital rights advocates.

How to help

You can take action in many ways, including supporting services that work to stem gender-based violence, and don’t forget to wear or display the colour orange, a symbol of hope and a future free from violence.