From 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10 December 2018, Human Rights Day, UN Rome-based Agencies (RBAs) supported the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign. WFP closed the campaign with an high-level event with RBAs representatives and other partners. More information is provided in this post.

1. 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence - Closing Ceremony main
highlights – 10 December 2018
Yesterday, Monday 10 December, International Human Rights Day, marked the end of a successful
16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence 2018 campaign.
The closing ceremony was opened by Kawinzi Muiu, Director of the Gender Office, followed by a
video message by Corinne Fleischer, Director, Syria Country Office. Veronique Sainte-Luce, Senior
Gender Programme Advisor, presented the audience with videos, pictures and a description of the
global engagement of WFP and partners during the campaign in all regions and HQ.
We also had the pleasure of an intervention by H.E. Gregory Alan French, Ambassador and
Permanent Representative of Australia to the International Organizations in Rome, Co-Chair of the
Rome Diplomats’ Gender Network. Among this year’s campaign activities in HQ, the Ambassador
highlighted the Forum Theatre Training session as an easy and refreshing way to better understand
survivor’s experiences and the complexities around Gender-based Violence (GBV).
The Ambassador transmitted a clear message: “the measure of any society is the way we treat those
among us who for whatever reason have less power and it is important to see how we seek to
address the causes of such imbalances […] we need to make sure that, we men, who make up half of
humanity, are part of the solution in preventing GBV. Not the problem”.
The audience also enjoyed a quite fun and interactive debate on the question: Is addressing gender-
based violence (GBV) a part of Rome-based agencies’ mandate? We had the privilege of listening to
the energetic arguments presented by both teams composed of: (Team A) Denise Brown, WFP
Director of Programme and Policy; Thouraya Triki, Director, IFAD Sustainable Production, Market
and Institution Division; (Team B) Cesar Arroyo, WFP Deputy Director of Supply Chain; Junko Sazaki,
FAO Director Social Policies and Rural Institutions. The debate was moderated by Corinne Woods,
WFP Director of Communications.
After this more relaxed note, the closing speech by the Amir Abdulla, Deputy Executive Director,
reminded us that “2030 is just around the corner” and that women need to feel empowered to play
their role in the SDGs. He quoted the words of Nelson Mandela: “Freedom cannot be achieved
unless women have been emancipated from all forms of oppression”.

2. For those of you who did not have the chance to attend the Ceremony, you may have a look by
clicking here. Have a look at the summary materials of activities of the Orange Campaign here.
We also want to encourage you to take this quick survey, to help us improve next year’s campaign
and welcome new ideas and suggestions.
Thank you very much!
The Gender Office