Executive Director’s Message

Launching the 16 Days of Activism

Today, we mark the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence. This global campaign runs from 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10 December, Human Rights Day. Every year, it reminds the world that violence against women and girls is still one of the most widespread human rights violations. At LIRAD, we see this as more than a period of awareness, it is a call to act with intention to combat every form of human right violation especially against women and girls. Digital violence, in particular, has become one of the most insidious threats, shaping lives in ways that are deeply damaging.

This year, the overall theme is “UNiTE to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls.” At LIRAD, and for this year’s Arts for Advocacy, we are using the theme “Digital Artivism: Her Voice, No Filter.” The digital world connects us, opens doors, and allows creativity and activism to thrive, but it has also become a space where harassment, threats, monitoring, blackmail, and abuse can happen quickly, repeatedly, and often without accountability. Women and girls face these harms every day, and it is time we confront them head-on.

Over the next 16 days, we will share a series of stories and supportive measures across our platforms. We will break down what digital violence looks like, explain the laws that protect women and girls, and provide practical steps for safety. We will publish articles and infographics, including “10 Ways Digital Violence Shows Up in Women’s Lives,” to help our community recognise and respond to abuse.

In collaboration with TechPride Empowerment, we will offer practical digital safety guidance. This will cover two-factor authentication, password protection, privacy settings, reporting tools, blocking, documenting harassment, and cybersecurity support. Together with Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria and other partners, we will host a webinar titled “Amplifying Marginalised Voices: Youth-Led Initiatives to End Gender-Based Violence.” This conversation will explore technology-facilitated abuse and the realities young people face online.

We will also release a survivor’s guide that lists verified hotlines and clear steps to take when digital violence occurs. During this campaign period, we will host our annual Arts for Advocacy celebration. Artists, poets, and creatives will use their work to confront gender-based violence and drive social change, and selected pieces will be featured on our platforms and website.

Throughout the campaign, we will spotlight books, documentaries, films, African female authors, and other creative works that centre survival, courage, and resistance. These reflections will continue into World AIDS Day on December 1 and World Human Rights Day on December 10.

This campaign is about giving women and girls the tools, knowledge, and support they need to navigate digital spaces safely, and about holding society accountable for protecting them.

Thank you for standing with us, for lending your voice, and for being part of a movement that refuses to let fear silence women and girls.

In Solidarity,

Augusta Yaakugh-Shahin, MCIArb (UK),

Executive Director & Founder, Lex Initiative.