The EU Delegation to Ethiopia Marks 16 Days of Activism and Stands United Against Violence Toward Women and Girls
Every year, from 25 November to 10 December, individuals, institutions, and nations take part in the global 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence. This initiative serves as a collective call to action that began in 1991 and has become one of the most impactful international advocacy efforts to protect the lives, dignity, and rights of women and girls. It marks a period of reflection, engagement, and renewed commitment to ensuring that every woman lives free from fear, intimidation, or harm.
This year’s theme highlights the urgent fight against digital violence. Abuse is no longer confined to physical spaces. It takes place in comment sections, private chats, anonymous accounts, and shared networks. Online harassment, cyberstalking, non consensual sharing of personal content, threats, and targeted propaganda disproportionately affect women and girls, especially those who speak out, lead, or simply exist in the public digital space. The UNiTE campaign this year reminds us that we must confront digital abuse with the same seriousness as offline violence.
In that spirit of shared commitment, all staff of the Delegation, including the Ambassador, joined in Oranging the Environment in a powerful demonstration of solidarity with women and girls. Together, we stand against digital violence, championing safety, respect, and dignity online and offline. This symbolic act was more than a photo moment. It was an affirmation of our principles and a visible expression of the environment of hope that orange represents: a future where every woman and girl can thrive without fear.
The Delegation of the European Union to Ethiopia aligns itself with the EU’s wider commitment to combat gender based violence across all domains. The EU Gender Action Plan places the protection and advancement of women’s rights at the core of policy and partnership efforts. In Ethiopia, we continue to work with institutions, advocacy groups, educational structures, community leaders, and youth networks to foster inclusion, empower voices, and support systems that protect vulnerable groups. Our commitment is anchored in the belief that protecting women’s rights is not a social add on, but a fundamental requirement for peace, development, and social stability.
Digital safety must be understood as a basic human right in the modern era. The dangers that women face online are real, often unseen, and frequently underestimated. The psychological harm inflicted by threats, impersonation, shaming, or targeted intimidation can have devastating consequences. It can silence participation, discourage ambition, and force individuals out of digital spaces that should belong to all. Advocating for safe digital environments includes encouraging responsible platform moderation, enhancing digital literacy, challenging misogynistic content, and promoting respectful engagement at every level.
None of this work is done in isolation. Our efforts as the EU Delegation are strengthened through close cooperation with the United Nations, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, civil society actors, and international development partners. Promoting a safe world for women is a shared responsibility that requires shared voices and shared actions.
The Ambassador echoed this spirit of commitment, reaffirming that advancing the safety and empowerment of women is crucial to building resilient societies and shaping a future driven by equality and mutual respect. The Delegation remains determined to be part of this effort in Ethiopia, today and in the years ahead.
Let us use these 16 days not only as a symbolic period of advocacy, but as a catalyst for sustained action. Let us educate, challenge harmful norms, speak up when silence would be easier, and amplify the voices of women and girls. Together, we support the UNiTE campaign, stand for a future free from violence, and believe in a world where every woman enjoys safety, dignity, equality, and opportunity.