New York City Launches Annual 16 Days Of Activism Against Gender-based Violence Campaign

New Yorkers Encouraged to Learn More About Gender-Based Violence, Spread Awareness, and Share Resources with Survivors

City Hall, Other Municipal Buildings, and Iconic Landmarks Will Be Lit Orange to Raise Awareness of Gender-Based Violence

NEW YORK, NEW YORK (November 22, 2022)—The NYC Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence (ENDGBV), the NYC Commission on Gender Equity (CGE), and the Mayor’s Office of Equity (MOE) will lead New York City's participation in the annual "16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign," starting November 25, on International Day to End Violence against Women, and ending December 10, on Human Rights Day. Created by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership at Rutgers University in 1991, this campaign is a global rallying cry that aims to raise awareness about the consequences of gender-based violence (GBV) and to urge the government, community, corporate, and philanthropic sectors to take actions to eliminate GBV. New Yorkers are encouraged to learn more about and join the campaign, and to help share the resources and services available to survivors throughout New York City by going to the “16 Days” campaign website at www.nyc.gov/16days.

Since 2018, New York City has participated in this international campaign at the local level as part of its efforts to address GBV and ensure access to inclusive services for all survivors of GBV. Globally over 6,000 organizations in 185 countries have participated in the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, reaching 300M+ since the campaign’s launch.  

"New York City stands firm against abuse of all forms – whether it be verbal, physical, or emotional – as it is a public safety issue that impacts all of us,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign aims to not only raise awareness, but also to be a conduit for people to engage in their communities across the five boroughs to eradicate violence. We are working tirelessly to create safe public and private spaces and call on all New Yorkers to be vigilant in combatting violence of any kind. Together, we will work to build a city where everyone is safe in their homes, workplace, and communities.”

“For vulnerable communities in particular and everyone in general, the pandemic has added significant stressors and some severe implications. These issues have touched the lives of many New Yorkers – children, families, women, and those in the LGBTQ+ community," said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom."The16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign creates a safe space to raise awareness and engage our community to create thriving conditions for all New Yorkers. Healthy environments are paramount to healthy lives, and we must continue to work toward a world free of violence.”

“The 16 Days Against Gender-Based Violence campaign is our city’s call to action to ensure we protect all people from violence," said Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives Sheena Wright. “This administration is deploying its resources to raise awareness and create effective support services, especially for transgender and non-binary communities. Ending gender-based violence requires all New Yorkers to play their part. With this campaign, we are making a clear statement that all should feel safe, protected, and welcome in New York City.”

"The annual '16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence' campaign highlights the City’s efforts to keep our communities safe and free from all forms of gender-based violence,” said Cecile Noel, Commissioner, NYC Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence. “Gender-based violence is a public health crisis, and survivors need a coordinated, holistic approach that engages multiple systems and providers to move from crisis to safety and healing. Our office works to implement this approach every day, engaging community-based organizations, law enforcement, government agencies, and the healthcare system to meet the needs of survivors throughout New York City. Our partnership with the Commission on Gender Equity and the Mayor’s Office of Equity on the 16 Days campaign aligns with global efforts to address gender-based violence at the local level and provides another opportunity to have diverse communities in every borough focus on survivor needs. Join us as we raise awareness of the dynamics and impacts of gender-based violence, lift up the stories and experiences of survivors, share vital information and resources, and wear orange on Go Orange Day to show support for survivors and ensure they know help is available."

"Gender-based violence is pervasive and can show up in our homes, streets, and even online. Now more than ever, we must acknowledge this horrible truth, which affects countless New Yorkers, transcending race, identity, and age," said NYC Mayor's Office of Equity Commissioner Sideya Sherman. "New York City is proud to join the global community in raising awareness through the 16 Days Campaign. Together, we can support survivors and work to end gender-based violence once and for all."

“The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign recognizes the countless lives lost and harmed by the senseless violence perpetrated by the misogynistic, sexist, and toxic culture and systems that have ingrained themselves into our society,” said Executive Director Jacqueline M. Ebanks, NYC Commission on Gender Equity. “Raising awareness of how gender-based violence affects everyone encourages all communities across the city to show up to end gender-based violence. All New Yorkers, regardless of gender identity, gender expression, or background, should feel safe and thrive in their homes, workplaces, schools, and communities. Together, we can prevent and eliminate all forms of gender- and race-based violence to make New York City a safer City.”

Gender-based violence includes intimate partner violence, family violence, elder abuse, sexual violence (which can include sexual harassment), stalking, and human trafficking and occurs in every part of our city, among people of all races, cultures, religions, and income levels. It can happen to anyone regardless of age, gender, or sexual orientation.  In 2021 there were 260,084 domestic violence incident reports filed by the NYPD – an average of 700 a day. In 2021, there were 93,735 calls to New York City’s 24-hour Domestic Violence hotline, with 6,970 unique requests for shelters. The NYC Hope online portal of gender-based violence and resources for survivors had 50,100 visits – an average of almost 140 visits a day.

The 2022 “16 Days” campaign theme is “End Gender-Based Violence in Every Borough,” to reflect the need for all New Yorkers to take action against GBV, starting in their communities. New Yorkers are encouraged to spread awareness about gender-based violence by wearing the campaign color orange on November 28 and posting on social media using the hashtags #NYCAgainstGBV and #OrangeTheWorld. In addition, Mayor Adams announced that City Hall and other municipal buildings will be lit orange on November 28 to raise awareness about the launch of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign.

Help Available for Survivors:

• If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic or gender-based violence, help is available:
• Call 311 and ask to be connected to the nearest NYC Family Justice Center
• Find resources and support in NYC by searching New York City's HOPE Resource Directory online at nyc.gov/NYCHOPE
• Call New York City's 24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-621-HOPE(4673) for immediate safety planning, shelter assistance, and other resources. TTY: 866-604-5350
• In an emergency, dial 911

About the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence

The Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence (ENDGBV) develops policies and programs, provides training and prevention education, conducts research and evaluations, performs community outreach, and operates the New York City Family Justice Centers. We collaborate with City agencies and community stakeholders to ensure access to inclusive services for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence (GBV). GBV includes intimate partner violence, family violence, elder abuse, sexual violence (which can include sexual harassment), stalking, and human trafficking. Read more about the term.

The NYC Family Justice Centers are co‐located multidisciplinary service centers providing vital social services, civil legal, and criminal justice assistance for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence and their children—all under one roof. For more information, visit nyc.gov/ENDGBV or visit us on visit us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

About the NYC Commission on Gender Equity

Founded in 2015, the NYC Commission on Gender Equity (CGE) works to create a deep and lasting institutional commitment to tearing down equity barriers across New York City. CGE addresses issues of inequity and discrimination facing girls, women, intersex, transgender and gender non-binary and gender non-conforming persons regardless of age, disability, ethnicity/race, faith, gender expression, immigrant status, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status. Focusing across the areas of economic mobility and opportunity, health and reproductive justice, and safety CGE ensures that the City leads in the development and implementation of best practices in gender equitable policies and programs for its workforce and its residents. For more information, visit nyc.gov/GenderEquity or visit us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

About the Mayor’s Office of Equity

Launched in Spring 2022, The Mayor's Office of Equity (MOE) helps foster a fairer, more equitable city through policy, practices, and programs across all City agencies and systems. As the City’s first, centralized equity office, MOE is an integral component of Mayor Adam’s vision to build a stronger and healthier city that delivers for all New Yorkers.

MOE utilizes an intersectional approach to equity and includes the Commission on Gender Equity (CGE), the Racial Justice Commission (RJC), the Pay Equity Cabinet (PEC), the Unity Project (UP), the Young Men's Initiative (YMI) and the Taskforce on Racial Inclusion & Equity (TRIE). Together, this body of offices and commissions engages New York’s diverse communities and constituencies to create transformative change.