Health & Wellness

Why the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) still matter

Mel explores the profound reach of GBV and explains how you can join the call to action, especially against the growing threat of digital abuse.

November 27, 2025 By Mel

YouAlberta is written by students for students.

Mel (she/her) is an adventurous third-year PhD candidate in political science. She loves practicing yoga, biking, spending time in nature and running. Mel's an avid fantasy and science fiction reader and loves supporting local theatre productions. She enjoys electronic music and going to raves to dance the night away. Mel volunteers with the Orchid Species Preservation Foundation and is the president of the Political Sciences Graduate Students’ Association. She loves trying new restaurants, exploring Edmonton’s festivals, enjoying the beautiful river valley and finding ways to add whimsy to her life.

It often only takes one conversation to realize how deeply gender-based violence (GBV) impacts the people around us, on campus and in our communities. Whether you have your own experiences with forms of GBV or know someone who does, it’s a far-reaching issue that demands attention.

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that runs from November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, until December 10, Human Rights Day.

The campaign started in 1991 to call out and speak up on GBV, and to renew commitment to ending violence against women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ individuals. This year’s theme, UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls, urges us to confront a rapidly growing form of GBV — digital abuse.

I’ve been involved in organizing events and supporting the 16 Days campaign with my community league and the Edmonton Global Shapers for the last several years. What resonates with me most is that nearly everyone I speak to about the campaign — across age groups and identities — has a story, either about themselves or a loved one.

No one is unaffected by GBV. And while the statistics reveal the severity of the issue, it’s important to remember that behind every number is a human who has been impacted in negative and profound ways.

What is GBV?

The Government of Canada defines GBV as: “any violent act committed against a person on the basis of their gender, gender expression, gender identity or perceived gender. GBV can take many forms, including physical, sexual, societal, psychological, emotional, economic and technology-facilitated violence.” While GBV can occur against men, it more commonly affects women and children.

Why the urgency?

We all know and love someone who has been affected by GBV in some way. On a global scale, violence against women and girls impacts one in three women. In Canada, GBV costs lives, with one woman or girl being killed every 48 hours, more than four in 10 women experiencing intimate partner violence in their lifetimes and women being five times more likely than men to experience sexual assault.

This is unacceptable. GBV comes at a great cost to society and has lasting negative health, social and economic consequences, often contributing to intergenerational cycles of violence and abuse. It’s an intersectional issue intensified by systemic inequalities such as legacies of colonialism and racism.

Awareness of these realities is an important first step in becoming an ally and learning how to stand with those who need support.

Ways to get involved or take action during the 16 Days:

Attend a local event or fundraiser. Check out the YWCA Edmonton Rose Campaign launch, attend a by-donation yoga class at the Laurier Heights Community League or take part in a workshop at the U of A Sexual Assault Centre.
Become a volunteer for a local organization such as the Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton, the U of A Sexual Assault Centre or a shelter affiliated with the Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters.
Attend a vigil in the community for the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, which commemorates and honours the 14 women killed at l'École Polytechnique de Montréal on December 6, 1989.
Familiarize yourself with the resources available in Alberta for individuals and families experiencing violence and/or visit the Sexual Assault Centre Virtual Resources Hub.
Check out the High-Level Bridge's 60,000 LED bulbs that will be lit up in purple on November 25, red on December 6 and blue on December 10 (all part of the 16 Days) to remind us that we need to shine more light on GBV.
Watch a movie, video or documentary related to GBV, such as those available for free through the National Film Board of Canada. Some suggestions include Into the Light, Because We Are Girls, This River, and Finding Dawn — all of which highlight powerful stories and lived experiences of those impacted by GBV.
Talk about GBV with your friends, family and colleagues. One of the goals of this campaign is to raise awareness about the scope and scale of GBV, of which many people are unaware, so share your knowledge and engage in dialogue as much as possible.

Though this campaign only lasts 16 Days, we must remember that we all have a role to play in ending GBV and must take action 365 days a year. These 16 Days are an annual reminder of the hard work that remains and represent a call for ongoing education and advocacy for change both locally and globally.