16 Days of Action against Gender Based Violence campaign

The 16 Days of Action 2025 has now finished. Thank you to everyone who attended our events.

16 Days of Activism is a global campaign fighting against gender-based violence.

The global campaign begins on 25 November, which also marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and ends on 10 December, International Human Rights Day.

Each year the campaign is supported by the Council and Empowered, the multi-agency partnership of services in East Dunbartonshire which work to prevent and eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.

A UN report estimates that 1 in 3 women aged 15 or older around the world have been subjected to physical or sexual violence at least once in their lifetime. However, these figures would be even higher if they included the full types of violence that affect women and girls such as harassment and online abuse.

The Council will be lighting up the the Community Hubs in Kirkintilloch and Bishopbriggs, as well as Milngavie Town Hall, in orange on 25 November to raise awareness of the 16 Days campaign and to encourage residents to learn more about the efforts being made to eliminate gender based violence.

There will also be a variety of events aimed at employees of the Council, local practitioners and the wider public, details of these events can be found below

• Around 1 in 4 women will experience some form of domestic abuse at some time in her life with similar figures approximated for rape, sexual assault and childhood sexual abuse 
• Research in the UK, the US, Canada and Australia suggests that approximately 1 in 4 LGBT people will experience domestic abuse
• Central Scotland Police recorded 3,705 incidents of domestic abuse 
• Around a third of teenage girls in a relationship suffer an unwanted sexual act
• The Forced Marriage Unit deals with approximately 300 to 400 cases of forced marriage a year across the UK
• Research indicates that 77% of stalking victims don’t report the situation until over 100 incidents have taken place.
• Women who are experiencing violence are 15 times more likely to use alcohol and 9 times more likely to use drugs than women generally.

If you have concerns about a child or vulnerable adult, you can contact: East Dunbartonshire Social Work Advice and Response Team - 0141 777 3000
Out of Hours Social Work Service - 0300 343 1505
Police Scotland (non-emergency) - 101

If you are currently or have previously been impacted by gender based violence, or you are concerned about someone else there is local support available.