The 16 Days of Activism Campaign links two international days of action: 25 November, International Day of Action for Elimination of Violence against Women, and 10 December, International Human Rights Day. In between falls 29 November, International Women’s Human Rights Defenders Day.
WHRDs who work on sexual and reproductive rights issues have been recognized at particular risk of grave consequences because of their work, as they are often perceived to be “challenging accepted socio-cultural norms, traditions, perceptions and stereotypes about femininity, […] and the role and status of women in society“. Not only are the advocacy efforts of SRHR activists often shunned, ignored or feared by broader society, but they often find their own lives and well-being at risk.
WGNRR demands that governments and Human Rights bodies:
- Pay particular attention to cases of WHRDs who have been threatened because of the nature of their work, and protect them from State and non-State actors that can violate their health, wellbeing and rights.
- Create and implement policies and mechanisms that will protect SRHR defenders’ human rights, among them the rights to defend human rights; to liberty, freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association; and to freedom from violence and discrimination.
and encourages international organizations to:
- Prioritize the recognition of SRHR Defenders as WHRDs in your work, and urge governments to take all necessary steps to create appropriate protection mechanisms and eradicate this form of violence.
- Within the framework of your mandates, develop standards for the protection of SRHR advocates, to be taken into account by States in the development of inclusive protection policies.
Source: Call for Action! 16 days of Activism: Stop Violence against SRHR defenders! | WGNRR
Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards 
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