16 Days of No Violence – Images from Europe

In London, England the humanitarian organization Progressio 75 raised awareness by placing crime scene lines drawn in orange in the most popular neighborhoods of London. The campaign urged UK citizens to e-mail their Members of Parliament about ending gender-based violence.



Photo source: Progressio 75



Another initiative from the UK led by activists from ActionAid used historic female figures as the focus of the campaign, emphasizing the impact they had in inspiring female activists. In the picture below, activists are seen with the statue of well-known author Virginia Wolf adorned with a sash with the Twitterhashtag #fearless.





Photo source: GuardianWitness



In Malaga, Spain, a group of women found an unlikely way of protesting against gender based violence by laying in central areas in black clothes as part of the 16 days of activism campaign.



Photo source: The Guardian



Albania was also among the countries that supported the campaign against gender violence was Albania. United Nations agencies in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Wellfare hosted an awareness campaign, calling the public to contribute and create a society where violence does not exist. A plethora of activities hosted by young women and men in addition to well known figures from media, sports and the arts were involved. The Minister of Social Welfare, BlendiKlosi said “Violence must end, not tomorrow, not today, but right now in this moment.”



Photo source: Tirana Times http://www.tiranatimes.com/?p=124940



Monuments and numerous public buildings were lit up in orange across the world in support of the “16 campaign. Below are some of the buildings featured across Europe.



The Peace Palace – The Hague, Netherlands
Photo source: Audiovisuele Media/Sjaak de Groot





Palais de l’Europe in Strousbourg, France
Photo source: Council of Europe/SandroWeltin





Ericsson Globe – Stockholm, Sweden
Photo source: UN Women Sverige





United Nations Building
Photo source: Un Woman





European Union Parliament – Brussels, Belgium
Photo source: European Commission



Even here in Kosovo, the 16 days of activism to end violence against women was marked with numerous social and cultural activities. As many other countries around the world did, the Kosovo government building was lit up in orange on .NGOs and other civil society organization campaign these days with debates, media campaign and artistic installations.



Government Building – Pristina, Kosovo
Photo source: Have It





For more information about the fight to end violence against women visit UN Women’s website here:
http://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/ending-violence-against-women/take-action/16-days-of-activism