Elimination of Violence Against Women November 2022
The idea of a yearly commemoration of the victims of violence against women began after the murder on November 25th, 1960 of three sisters, Patria Mercedes Mirabal, Maria Argentina Minerva Mirabal and Antonia Maria Teresa Mirabal on the orders of Dominican Republic ruler Rafael Trujillo, whose dictatorship they had been active in trying to end. The date of their murder has been marked since 1981, was officially endorsed by the United Nations in 1999, and has been celebrated annually on November 25th since the year 2000.
Last year’s campaign to ORANGE the world is followed this year by its UNiTE campaign of Activism to End Violence against Women & Girls. Sixteen days of activism worldwide will aim to increase awareness and promote solutions to this crisis, and a number of events are being organised by local authorities throughout Scotland, leading up to International Human Rights Day on Saturday, 10th December 2022.
Scotland and Violence Against Women
The last year has seen the focus shift away from blaming women to trying to change men’s behaviour. The Scottish government’s two recent policy initiatives aim to make men focus on their own behaviour and that of their friends. Last year ‘That Guy’ made men re-think their own attitudes. Its follow-up this year ‘Don’t Be That Guy’ encourages men to call out sexist or misogynistic behaviour in their friends, challenging behaviour like wolf-whistling or passing comments on a woman’s looks, which is often dismissed as just banter, aiming to prevent men from escalating into worse behaviour.
But misogyny as a specific crime was omitted from the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 in favour of a new stand-alone misogyny offence which has yet to be introduced.
Is a specific campaign still needed?
Yes. Since the covid pandemic, 45% of women reported that they or a woman they know has experienced a form of Violence Against Women and Girls. Covid restrictions meant an increase in domestic abuse due to victims and perpetrators being ‘locked in’ together at home. Seven in ten women said they think that verbal or physical abuse by a partner has become more common. Six in ten felt that sexual harassment in public spaces has worsened. It is almost routine in places like the London Underground, due to trains being overcrowded and people crammed together like sardines.
On average one woman is killed every three days in the UK, many by current or former partners, often with a history of violence between them. A woman is most in danger when she is about to leave an abusive partner. But fully one in twelve murders of women is by a total stranger.
Some events for the coming 16 days are listed below but for direct links to activities and events in your area go to your local authority website for more information, or alternatively visit Improvement Scotland at
is.improvement service 16 days of activism against gender-based violence
16 Days 2022 – Calendar of events
Friday 25th November
The North-East Violence against Women Forum
UHI Moray Conference Hall, Moray St. Elgin
9.30am-3.30pm
Register for The North-East Violence against Women Forum
Forth Valley Launch and March
Forth Valley College, Falkirk FK2 9AD
1.30pm-4.30pm
Contact ilsesanchez.posso@falkirk.gov.uk or linda.gilliland@falkirk.gov.uk for more information
Monday 28th November
Spotlight Workshop: Children and Young People Experiencing Violence Against Women and Girls
Online, MS Teams
2.00pm – 4.00pm
ASC Domestic Abuse Training from Medics against Violence
10am – 12pm
Online
Register for ASC Domestic Abuse Training from Medics against Violence
Dundee Reclaim The Night 2022
Magdalen Green
6.30-9.00pm
Information about Dundee Reclaim The Night 2022 available here
Tuesday 29th November
Spotlight Workshop: Embedding Safe & Together in Scotland – Creating Domestic Abuse Informed Systems, Service and Workforces
Online, MS Teams
1.30pm – 4.00pm
A Scotland Free from Men’s Violence Against Women and Girls – Zero Tolerance
In person (Edinburgh) and online
3.00pm – 5.00pm
Register for A Scotland Free from Men’s Violence Against Women and Girls
Wednesday 30th November
Spotlight Workshop: Violence Against Women and Girls and Mental Health
Online, MS Teams
9.30am – 11.30am
Register for Spotlight Workshop: Violence Against Women and Girls and Mental Health
Trauma-informed practice and women who sell or exchange sex – CSE Aware
Online, Zoom
11.30am – 1.00pm
Register for Trauma-informed practice and women who sell or exchange sex
Thursday 1st December
Spotlight Workshop: Violence Against Women and Girl and Community Safety
Online, MS Teams
10.00am – 12.30pm
Register for Spotlight Workshop: Violence Against Women and Girl and Community Safety
Coercive Control in Children’s Lives – Education Scotland
Online
10.00am-11.30am
Register for Coercive Control in Children’s Lives (Note: Priority for stakeholders working in education)
EmilyTest and Clackmannanshire Women’s Aid: Emily’s Story
11.00am – 12.30am
Online
‘Izzat, aye?’: Let’s Talk About “Honour” – Amina – The Muslim Women’s Resource Centre
Glasgow City Chambers 82 George Square Glasgow G2 1DU
6.00pm-8.30pm
Register for ‘Izzat, aye?’: Let’s Talk About “Honour”
Saturday 3rd December
Dundee Spoken Word Poetry Night
7.00pm – 10.00pm
Rad Apples, 51-53 Meadowside, Dundee
Register for Dundee Spoken Word Poetry Night
Monday 5th December
From viewers to consumers: normalising men’s violence against women – Encompass
10.00am – 12.30pm
Online, Zoom
Register for From viewers to consumers: normalising men’s violence against women
Tuesday 6th December
Spotlight Workshop: Commercial Sexual Exploitation
Online, MS Teams
10.00am – 12.30pm
Register for Spotlight Workshop: Commercial Sexual Exploitation
South Ayrshire VAWP Reclaim the Night
5.30pm
Ayr Academy
Wednesday 7th December
Marac in Scotland
Online
9.30am-12.30pm
Register for Marac in Scotland
Thursday 8th December
National Conference
Online, MS Teams
Details coming soon
Friday 9th December
Dundee Finale Event in City Square
Flashmob 2.30pm
Public Vigil 7.45 – 8.30pm
Full Local Authority Programmes
Dundee programme of local events
East and Midlothian programme of local events