The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that starts on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day.
16 Days - Toolkit
The National Violence Against Women Network have developed a toolkit of resources to add value to local 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaigns across Scotland. This toolkit supports a number of activities which can be progressed locally and nationally to maximise the impact of the campaign (25 November – 10 December).
The toolkit includes:
- Images of the National Network logo to be used on campaign materials. he logo banner images have been updated to include the 2025 chosen theme in Scotland of All together to prevent and end violence against women and girls.
- Graphics and animations on key statistics/messages relating to violence against women and girls and gender equality.
- A selection of images to use as an MS Teams background.
- A template communications schedule for social media during the 16 Days campaign.
Download the 2025 16 Days Toolkit
In order to showcase the use of this toolkit and activity across Scotland, please take pictures and videos of your activity during 16 Days and send to vaw@improvementservice.org.uk
All together to prevent and end violence against women and girls
In 2025 the chosen theme for the campaign resources in Scotland is All Together to prevent and end violence against women and girls. The aim of this theme is to emphasise that violence against women and girls is everyone’s business, and to promote and celebrate joined up, collaborative working to tackle this issue. The Equally Safe strategy states that “No one sector, organisation, or service can tackle the prevention and eradication of VAWG alone.” The All Together theme calls for collective action across communities, sectors, organisations and individuals.
16 Days national calendar
Perth and Kinross: 16 Days Pre-Launch
Friday 21 November
11:00am
Horsecross Concert Hall
East Dunbartonshire: Empowering Deaf Women to Report Domestic Abuse
Monday 24 November
11:30am - 2:30pm
Kirkintilloch Town Hall
Dumfries and Galloway 16 Days of Action Calendar of Events
Tuesday 25 November - Wednesday 10 December
Booking form
West Lothian: 16 Days of Action Community March
Tuesday 25 November
10:15am - 12:00pm
West Lothian College, Almondvale Crescent Livingston
Perth and Kinross: ‘From Healing to Hope’ Wellbeing Session
Tuesday 25 November
12:15pm - 3:00pm
Perth Gallery, George Street, Perth, PH1 5LB
Female only event
Forth Valley: 16 Days Launch Event and March for Safety
Tuesday 25 November
11:00am - 2:30pm
Forth Valley College, Falkirk
Orkney Rape and Sexual Assault Service
Tuesday 25 November
12:00pm - 2:00pm
Peedie Birds Display, St Magnus Cathedral
Spotlight Webinar: Tackling Economic Abuse in Scotland
Wednesday 26 November
10:00am -11:30am
Online
Edinburgh: Introduction to the Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse Scotland (DSDAS)
Wednesday 26 November
9:30am - 11:00am
Online
Dumfries and Galloway: Reclaim the Night March
Wednesday 26 November
6:00pm
Dumfries Plainstains and Stranraer Millenium Centre
Email for more information
Western Isles: Lunch and Learn
Thursday 27 November
12:00pm - 3:00pm
Stornoway Golf Club
RSVP
Western Isles: Stornoway White Ribbon Stall 1
Thursday 27 November
4:30pm - 6:30pm
Lewis Sports Centre, Stornoway, HS1 2PZ
Orkney Rape and Sexual Assault Service:
16 Days exhibition
Thursday 27 November - Tuesday 9th December
Northlight Gallery, Stromness
Scottish Women’s Aid: Invisible Chains: Unwinding Economic Abuse and Promoting Financial Empowerment
Thursday 27 November
1:00pm - 4:30pm
Online
Perth and Kinross: Homicide Timeline – Awareness Raising session
Thursday 27 November
9:30am - 1:00pm
Perth Theatre
Moray: Challenging Gender Stereotypes in the Early Years
Friday 28 November
1:00pm - 2:30pm
Online
Western Isles: Stornoway White Ribbon Stall 2
Friday 28 November
10:00am - 11:30am
Co-op Stornoway, HS1 2HU
Perth and Kinross: “What were you wearing” exhibition
Friday 28 November
9:30am - 3:00pm
Perth UHI Library, no booking required
Forth Valley: Spider In The Glass - The Spiderlings session, by Myra Ross
Monday 1 December
10:30am - 12:30pm
Online
Edinburgh: Bitter-Sweet Sixteen: Abuse, violence and exploitation in Children’s and Young People’s Intimate Relationships
Monday 1 December
1:30pm - 4:30pm
Online
Argyll and Bute: Rape Crisis Open Days
Monday 1 December
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Helensburgh Community Hub, 166 East Princes Street, Helensburgh, G84 7DQ
Spotlight Webinar: Understanding Pet Abuse in Domestic Abuse and Coercive Control
Tuesday 2 December
2:00pm – 3.30pm
Online
Argyll and Bute: Rape Crisis Open Days
Tuesday 2 December
11:00am - 1:00pm
Dunoon, 215 Argyll Street, Dunoon, PA23 7QT
Scottish Women’s Aid, Beyond the Screen: Technology and AI Facilitated Domestic Abuse
Tuesday 2 December
10:00am - 1:00pm
Online
Public Health Scotland: Recognising & Responding to Commercial Sexual Exploitation
Tuesday 2 December
11:00am - 1:00pm
Online
Perth and Kinross: Reclaim the Night March
Wednesday 3 December
5:30pm, march leaves at 6:00pm
Perth Civic Hall
East Ayrshire: HollieGuard - Personal Safety App
Wednesday 3 December
12:30pm - 1:15pm
Online
Spotlight Webinar: Digital Violence Against Young Women and Girls in Scotland
Thursday 4 December
2:00pm – 3:30pm
Online
Forth Valley: White Ribbon Train Station Takeover
Thursday 4 December
9:00am - 3:00pm
Stirling Train Station
Forth Valley: Facilitating Disclosures and Exploring Motherhood in the Sex Industry
Thursday 4 December
10:00am - 11:30am
Online
Argyll and Bute Rape Crisis Open Days
Thursday 4 December
1:00pm – 3:00pm
Rothesay, 49 Victoria Street, Rothesay, Isle of Bute, PA20 0AP
East Dunbartonshire VAWP 16 Days of Action Event:
Beyond the Break- Understanding the Challenges of Post Separation Abuse
Thursday 4 December
11:00am – 3:00pm
Kirkintilloch Town Hall
Perth and Kinross: ‘Facing the truth finding hope’ seminar
Thursday 4 December
9:30am – 1:00pm
Perth Art Gallery, 78 George Street
Argyll and Bute Rape Crisis Open Days
Friday 5 December
11:30am – 2:30pm
Oban, The Janet Square, 21 High Street, Oban, PA34 4BG
Spotlight Webinar: Exploring the Intersections of Violence Against Women and Substance Use
Monday 8 December
2:00pm – 3:30pm
Online
Edinburgh: Online misogyny, incel culture, pornography and their impacts on children and young people: How can professionals respond?
Monday 8 December
9:30am - 12:30pm
Online
Perth and Kinross: RASAC delivery on Trauma informed Practice Event
Monday 8 December
9:30am - 12:30pm
Alzheimer’s Office, 7 George Street
Email to book
Spotlight Webinar: Scotland’s Response to Violence Against Women and Girls in Crisis and Migration
Tuesday 9 December
10:00am – 11:30am
Online
Perth and Kinross: “A Taste of Hope”: Celebrating Women Over Tea & Cake
Tuesday 9 December
10:00am – 12:00pm
Perthshire Women’s Aid Offices
Email to book
East Ayrshire: Gender based violence and the media
Tuesday 9 December
10:00am – 11:30am
Online
East Ayrshire: White Ribbon
Wednesday 10 December
2:00pm - 3:00pm
Online
Forth Valley: Kelpies Light Up: A Human Rights Day Gathering
Wednesday 10 December
6:00pm - 7:30pm
The Kelpies, Grangemouth
Edinburgh: Better memories from now on’: how to best support infants, babies and children living with parental domestic abuse
Wednesday 10 December
9:30am – 12:30pm
Online
Orkney Rape and Sexual Assault Service: Information session
Wednesday 10 December
Balfour Hospital main reception
Dumfries and Galloway: Safe and Together Overview
Wednesday 10 December
9:30am - 4:30pm
The Cocoa Bean Factory, Ashland, Twynholm, Kirkcudbright
West Lothian: Supporting Survivors Night Vigil
Wednesday 10 December
4:30pm - 5:00pm
West Lothian Civic Centre, Howden South Road
Examples of local 16 Days campaign activities
- East Ayrshire White Ribbon: A White Ribbon pledge signing event at Kilmarnock train station, encouraging people to sign the White Ribbon Scotland pledge to never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women in all its forms.
- Edinburgh Respect Her Space Campaign: Throughout the 16 Days a re-run of the #RespectHerSpace campaign ran throughout Edinburgh. Posters were displayed from the campaign in men's restrooms in hospitality venues. The posters encouraged men to think about the impact on their behaviour in public spaces on women and girls.
- Fife 16 Days 16 Recommended Reads: Developed as part of the 16 Days programme to promote books that contribute to raising awareness about gender inequality and violence against women.
- Inverclyde Posters in Football Stadiums: Inverclyde Council teamed up with Greenock Morton FC and Greenock Morton Women FC to help promote the 16 Days Campaign 2024 with a banner on the main stand at Cappielow Football Stadium. Posters covering the national themes were displayed in all public areas throughout the campaign with a bar code that linked to the 16 Days website.
- Perth and Kinross Campaign Video.
- Shetland Time To Talk Toolkit: A resource for workplaces to have meaningful conversations about Gender-Based Violence and take small, practical actions towards change.
- West Dunbartonshire ‘Tree of Hope’: Designed by women supported by the local Women’s Safety and Support Service (WSSS). A number of women made a hand cut out and wrote a quote of what domestic abuse and the service means to them and their children.
- West Lothian: Breaking the Silence on Gender Based Violence: West Lothian Partners joined forces in an event aimed at breaking the silence on gender- based violence and understanding the barriers experienced by women, particularly Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and Refugee (BAMER) communities accessing support. It provided an opportunity for workers to improve their cultural awareness and allowed women an opportunity to share their experiences of gender-based violence.
Watch the video below for more examples of the 16 Days Campaign in Scotland.
- Helpline: 0800 027 1234 (24/7 helpline) Scotland's Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline
- Police Scotland: Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse Scotland
- Police Scotland: THAT GUY sexual crime prevention campaign
- White Ribbon Scotland: Take Action
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Improving outcomes for people and communities affected by poverty, inequality, trauma and adversity: Joining the dots across key policy agendas (briefing)
There are a number of key policy agendas that are part of a broader ambition to improve outcomes for people and communities across Scotland affected by poverty, inequality, trauma and adversity. This briefing highlights the links across these and explores opportunities for re-framing these multiple policy ambitions as opportunities to work together around the common goal of improving outcomes for people and communities.
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Improving outcomes for people and communities affected by poverty, inequality, trauma and adversity: joining the dots across key policy agendas (infographic)
This infographic provides an overview of a small number of key national policy agendas, approaches and commitments, all designed to support a cross-policy, person-centred approach to improving outcomes for people and communities across Scotland affected by poverty, inequality, trauma and adversity.