The United Nations Observance of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women takes place on Wednesday, 22 November 2023, 10:00 am – 11:30 am (EST) at the ECOSOC Chamber, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual campaign that begins on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and ends on International Human Rights Day on 10 December. Led by civil society, the campaign is supported by the United Nations through the Secretary General’s UNiTE by 2030 to End Violence against Women initiative. The global theme of this year’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence is “UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls” which emphasizes the need for funding prevention strategies to proactively stop gender-based violence. The theme further aligns with the 2024 priority theme of the Commission on the Status of Women, which is "Accelerating Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women and Girls" by addressing poverty, strengthening institutions, and incorporating a gender perspective into financing. The 16 Days campaign will support and amplify commitments to prevent violence against women and catalyze global advocacy efforts including through Generation Equality and the Action Coalition on Gender-Based Violence.