Standing With Women: AWE’s Commitment During the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence

This past Tuesday, November 25th, marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls, and the beginning of the global 16 Days of Activism campaign. From today until December 10th, World Human Rights Day, people around the world unite to confront one of the most enduring violations of human rights: gender-based violence.

This year’s theme, “End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls,” highlights a rapidly evolving front of harm. As digital spaces become integral to work, education, entrepreneurship, and community-building, they have also become sites of harassment, exploitation, surveillance, and silencing. Digital violence is real violence and it compounds the structural inequalities women already face.

Yet even as these challenges deepen, support for women has never been more fragile. A recent report from the World Health Organization and collaborating UN agencies reveals a devastating truth: Just 0.2% of global development assistance is allocated to programs combating violence against women. Even more alarming, this figure has barely shifted, decreasing by less than 1% in 25 years. At the same time, humanitarian aid and development budgets worldwide are being cut, leaving women and girls even more vulnerable. For women in least-developed regions, the situation is even more stark. The prevalence of sexual and gender-based violence in these countries is nearly 10% higher than the global average. These are not abstract statistics. These are women whose safety, livelihoods, and futures are being neglected by systems meant to protect them. Why AWE’s Work Matters Now More Than Ever

At AWE, we believe that empowerment must be both immediate and sustainable. Our programs are designed not only to support women in moments of crisis, but to help them build lives, skills, and income streams that reduce vulnerability long-term.

Our new Extension Program takes this mission even further. Women trained through ASSET become Facilitator-Entrepreneurs, returning to their communities to train ten more women each: multiplying impact, multiplying resilience, and multiplying safety.

In contexts where gender-based violence is heightened, economic power is protection. Confidence, community-building, knowledge-sharing, and income all give women stronger footing to leave unsafe situations, resist exploitation, and reclaim autonomy.

The data in the WHO report is a call to action. AWE’s programs are a response. The 16 Days of Activism is an invitation to raise awareness, challenge discriminatory systems, and support organizations working to create real change.

To honour these 16 days of global mobilization, we invite you to support AWE’s mission. All donations made before December 2nd will be matched by our matching donors, doubling your impact.

Your contribution directly funds the entrepreneurial training, leadership development, and community-level capacity building that enable women to break cycles and rise together.

Donate today: https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/donation-form/fund-the-multiplier-effect-donate-to-empower-awe-globals-biggest-reach-ever

Let’s work together to ensure that women and girls are not left behind: online, offline, or anywhere in between.