On 25 November 1960, the Mirabal sisters were tragically assassinated for their fight against injustice under Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo. Their legacy inspired global action, leading the UN in 1993 to define gender-based violence as “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life”; and, in 1999, to establish November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. To learn more – International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence 2026
From 25 November to 10 December 2026, UNESCO is joining the 16 Days of Activism as part of the UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE 2026 campaign, which focuses on ensuring justice, protecting survivors and ending impunity for violence against women and girls. The campaign calls for stronger laws, survivor-centred services and greater accountability for perpetrators, while addressing harmful stereotypes and social norms that perpetuate violence and undermine gender equality.
To learn more – 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence 2025