Mayor Adams Announces City Hall, Municipal Buildings, Iconic New York City Sites to be lit Orange for Annual '16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence'

November 28, 2022

New Yorkers Encouraged to Join Campaign and Share Resources
Available to Survivors in New York City

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced that City Hall and a number of other municipal buildings will be lit orange tonight for the annual “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” campaign, which raises awareness about the consequences of gender-based violence. The lighting of city buildings will be done in coordination with other New York City landmarks across the five boroughs.

“Gender-based violence is abuse that exploits the unequal power in relationships between genders, and can happen anywhere in our city, to anyone, and takes many forms, whether it be verbal, physical, or mental,” said Mayor Adams. “This is a public safety issue that impacts us all and to those who have or are suffering from gender-based violence, I want you to know you are not alone. Every New Yorker deserves safe spaces and healthy lives. That is why this administration is fighting to end gender-based violence across every borough and why it is committed to preventing and eliminating all forms of violence against all people.”

“To any child, family, or individual that is a survivor of domestic or gender-based violence, today we light our municipal buildings orange in honor of you,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “We do so to raise awareness, to recognize your journey, and to work toward a world free of domestic and gender-based violence.”

“As we light City Hall, the city’s municipal buildings, and local landmarks orange tonight in honor of ‘16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence,’ we send a clear message to survivors of domestic and gender-based violence across the five boroughs: The city is here for you,” said Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence (ENDGBV) Commissioner Cecile Noel. “We hope New Yorkers will be inspired by these lights and join our campaign to spread awareness about the resources and services available to survivors of domestic and gender-based violence. Together, with our partners — the New York City Commission on Gender Equity and the Mayor’s Office of Equity — we can mobilize far and wide to show survivors we support, listen to, and believe them.”

“Tonight, we are linking arms globally with our international partners to once again stand against violence with the ‘16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence’ campaign,” said Mayor's Office of Equity (MOE) Commissioner Sideya Sherman. “By lighting City Hall and other historic buildings orange, we are reinforcing our commitment to promote safety and support for all New Yorkers touched by gender-based violence.”

“Lighting City Hall and other New York City landmarks orange sends a message to New Yorkers, and the world, that we must be vigilant and act swiftly against gender-based violence every day,” said New York City Commission on Gender Equity (CGE) Executive Director Jacqueline M. Ebanks. “The ‘16 Days’ campaign is a conduit to raise awareness and engage New Yorkers. Let’s all wear orange tonight to demonstrate and support those who have suffered or are suffering from gender-based violence, and to let them know that New York City has the resources and services they need to heal and thrive.”

In addition to City Hall, the following city buildings and iconic New York City sites will be lit up orange:

City Buildings Being Lit Up:

• The Arsenal in Central Park
• Bronx County Courthouse
• The David N. Dinkins Manhattan Municipal Building
• Gracie Mansion
• One Police Plaza
• The Parachute Jump in Coney Island
• Queens Borough Hall
• Staten Island Borough Hall

Iconic New York City Sites Being Lit Up:

• 1 World Trade Center
• Bank of America Tower
• Four Times Square

The Adams administration’s commitment to advancing the city’s response to gender-based violence is supported by multiple innovative strategies and initiatives. Last week, on November 22nd, Mayor Adams signed into law a ‘Support Survivors’ legislative package , which provides support for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence. The laws amend New York City’s administrative code by establishing a housing stability program for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence and by creating an online services portal. In addition to spreading awareness about city and community-based services for survivors, these vital laws address a critical need for survivors: low-barrier, flexible funding to support the housing and safety-related needs of survivors.

Led by ENDGBV, CGE, and MOE, the “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” campaign began on November 25th (International Day to End Violence against Women) and will end December 10th (Human Rights Day). This campaign encourages New Yorkers to learn more about the consequences of gender-based violence, as well as urging government, community, corporate, and philanthropic sectors to take concrete and impactful actions to eliminate gender-based violence.

New Yorkers can learn more about the “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” campaign by visiting the city’s official website .

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