The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is a global campaign running annually from 25 November to 10 December, dedicated to the elimination of violence against women and girls. This year, the campaign emphasises the theme: “Cambodia’s Progress and Challenges in Ending Violence Against Women.”
On 10 December 2024, the Australia-Cambodia Cooperation for Equitable Sustainable Services (ACCESS 2) program hosted an event to commemorate the campaign, aiming to deepen understanding among the team about how their collective efforts contribute to addressing GBV. The event reflected the program’s enduring commitment to fostering a safer and more equitable society, spotlighting both progress and ongoing challenges in the fight against GBV.
A Day of Engagement and Reflection
The ACCESS 2 team actively participated in a series of thoughtful and engaging activities. Through creative expression—writing and drawing on posters and post-it notes—team members shared their perspectives on why GBV is a profound human rights issue and why it demands action from individuals, organisations, and families alike.
Specialists in GBV and Disability Inclusion presented key insights, including:
- Technology-facilitated GBV: Addressing how modern technologies can be misused to perpetuate violence.
- GBV and women with disabilities: Highlighting the unique vulnerabilities faced by women with disabilities and the need for targeted interventions.
The program also offered an opportunity for the team to reflect on lessons learned from their work during ACCESS Phase 1 and ACCESS 2 in addressing GBV and supporting disability inclusion.
Key Messages and Leadership Perspectives
During the event, Mr Sasha Cigljarevic, Deputy Team Leader of ACCESS 2, delivered opening remarks, emphasising the critical role of men in the fight against GBV. He stated:
“Being a male leader and a model of change, I want to emphasise the importance of our role—both men and women—in combating this injustice. I believe that GBV is not just a personal issue for us; it is a societal crisis and a profound human rights violation.”
Mr Cigljarevic’s words reinforced the campaign’s central message: ending GBV is inseparable from the broader pursuit of human rights and equality.
Key Messages from the Team
The team contributed impactful statements underscoring the collective responsibility to combat GBV:
- “Violence violates human rights; violence leads to more violence. Stopping violence is everyone’s business.”
- “Everyone has human rights. Men and women have the same rights.”
- “Everyone has a role to play in building a safer, healthier, and more equitable society.”
Concluding the Session
The event concluded with Ms Sophia Cason, Team Leader of ACCESS 2, outlining actionable steps to end GBV. Her recommendations included:
- Speaking up and speaking out against violence.
- Identifying the signs and understanding the issues.
- Challenging harmful beliefs about masculinity.
- Calling out sexual harassment.
- Supporting women’s leadership and funding women’s organisations.
- Advocating for stronger laws, better services, and more robust data collection.
- Building solidarity with other movements working towards equality.
Ms Cason’s message served as a call to action for everyone to contribute in meaningful ways to the global effort to eliminate GBV.
