The Mombasa County Gender Sector Working Group (MCGSWG), together with Search for Common Ground (SCG), has rolled out a series of activities ahead of the 16 days of activism celebrations.
The Mombasa County Gender Secter Working Group, whose mandate is guided by the Sexual and Gender-Based violence working Group (SGBV-WG) guidelines of 2017, was formed in 2019 with the aim of promoting a shared vision and integrated strategies among stakeholders to better address SGBV through a survivor-centred and rights-based approach.
MCGS-WG group has a membership of 43 organisations being representatives of government departments, civil society organisations, Non-Govermental organisations, faith-based organisations, legal institutions, human rights defenders, private sector and members of the community.
The group began its activities on Tuesday, November 19, with a two-day training of influencers, podcasters, and journalists on technology facilitated gender based violence and sensitisation on their role in the 16 days of activism. The training was conducted at the Sapphire Hotel.
The main objective of the training was to raise awareness and understanding on technology facilitated gender based violence amongst online influencers and podcasters and their role in online advocacy during the period of the celebrations.
The training also sensitizes the trainees on cyber security, legal frameworks, and online violence, as well as promote digital safety and accountability.
After the training, journalists and online influencers are now expected to take up their role in creating awareness both in the community and online on TF-GBV and ways to prevent and report related matters during the entire period of the 16 days of activism I.e November 25 to December 10, 2025.
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that kicks off on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day.
The campaign was started by activists at the inauguration of the Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991.
It is used as an organizing strategy by individuals and organizations around the world to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.
In support of this civil society initiative, the United Nations Secretary-General launched in 2008 the campaign UNITE by 2030 to End Violence against Women, which runs parallel to the 16 Days of Activism.
Every year, the UNITE Campaign focuses on a specific theme, and this year’s is “UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls”.
The campaign calls on citizens to show how much they care about ending violence against women and girls by sharing the actions they are taking to create a world free from violence towards women.
This year’s campaign also calls on governments worldwide to share how they are investing in gender-based violence prevention.
According to the World Health Organization, violence against women and girls affects one in three women.
As the world marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action – one of the most progressive international agreements on women’s rights to date – the UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE 2025 campaign focuses on one of the fastest-growing forms of abuse: digital violence against women and girls.
This year’s campaign is also a reminder that digital safety is central to gender equality.