The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is observed every year on November 25 by raising awareness around the world that women are exposed to various forms of violence (rape, domestic violence, online harassment, etc.). The full scope of the problem is often hidden. This day marks the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign, which lasts until December 10, Human Rights Day. The theme of the campaign UNiTE for 2025 is End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls, with a focus on the serious and fast-growing threat of online harassment and asking governments and IT companies to act.
IZ KRUGA VOJVODINA, at the invitation of the group ŽENE ZA PROMENE (WOMEN for CHANGES), joined feminist organizations and allied collectives FemPlatz, Irida, CK13, Kuhinjica Solidarnosti (Solidarity Kitchenette), and Novosadski zborovi (Assemblies from Novi Sad), and participated in the united action WE DO NOT CONSENT TO SILENCE on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and thus began the campaign 16 Days Activism against Violence against Women.
The participants of the action and their allies gathered at 3 p.m. at three different locations (Dunavski Park, the premises of CK13, and the corner of Jevrejska and Bulevar oslobodjenja streets), from where they marched towards Trg slobode (Liberty Square), marking the end of the action there. Women of different generations and with diverse traits were gathered in the action, and a network of emotional and political support was created, which raised awareness that solidarity helps women endure and continue individual and collective fight when there is no support, neither in the private nor in the public domain.
The joint action WE DO NOT CONSENT TO SILENCE aimed to show that violence against women is not sporadic and accidental but deeply rooted in social norms and institutional practices. Femicide, domestic violence, and state repression are not separate phenomena but part of the same continuum of gender-based violence.
Arriving at Trg slobode from three directions, apostrophized that violence comes from three spheres – private, social, and institutional, and the finale of the protest action was creating noise with the message – WE STOP VIOLENCE THROUGH VISIBILITY AND SOLIDARITY!
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Activists for women’s rights have been celebrating the International Day Against Violence Against Women since 1981. This date was chosen in honor of the Mirabal sisters, three political activists from the Dominican Republic who were brutally murdered in 1960 by order of the country’s ruler, Rafael Trujillo (1930-1961). On December 20, 1993, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women by Resolution 48/104, paving the way for the eradication of violence against women and girls worldwide. Finally, on February 7, 2000, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 54/134, officially declaring November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, calling on governments, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations to unite and organize activities to raise public awareness of the problem of gender-based violence every year on that date.
Women with disabilities are recognized as a group at greater risk of violence, abuse, and exploitation, both inside and outside their homes. Advocacy groups use this day to call for concrete actions for fighting violence against women with disabilities. IZ KRUGA VOJVODINA calls on all institutions, women’s, and other organizations working on protection from gender-based violence in Serbia to take concrete actions to make their services inclusive, internal policies, physical and communicational accessibility for women with disabilities, and ensure cooperation with organizations representing persons with disabilities, thus making their answer to violence accessible to women with disabilities too.
Local media about the action: Moj Novi Sad – announcement of the action; Portal 021 – news; Portal Lufika – announcement of the action;
