16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence
Content warning ⚠️
This page includes discussion of tech-base abuse in domestic and family violence, which may be distressing for some people.
16 Days of Activism Toolkit
Your Digital Safety Matters: Get Switched On
Content warning ⚠️
This page includes discussion of tech-base abuse in domestic and family violence, which may be distressing for some people.
From 25 November to 10 December, WHISE is joining the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign with a regional focus on technology-facilitated abuse in multicultural communities across the Southern Metropolitan Region (SMR).
This year’s UN Women theme — End digital violence against all women and girls — aligns with WHISE’s commitment to creating safe, equitable, and inclusive online spaces.
In partnership with Elevate, a group of community-based advocates, this campaign has been designed to be accessible, culturally relevant, and written in plain language to ensure all community members can engage with it confidently.
What is technology-facilitated abuse?
Technology-facilitated abuse, or tech-based abuse, is any type of abuse using digital tools (phones, apps) or online platforms to stalk, monitor, threaten, emotionally abuse, sexually harass, share private images or conduct any other online activity to hurt, control or scare someone. It is often linked to other forms of domestic or family violence.
Watch the video, then see how much you've learned by doing our quiz
About the campaign
Our campaign, Your Digital Safety Matters: Get Switched On, raises awareness about how technology can be used to cause harm and how communities can take steps to stay safe, connected, and informed.
The campaign toolkit provides everything partners need to share key messages, start conversations, and support safe technology access across the SMR.
About Elevate: Voices for Change
Elevate is a community-led initiative by WHISE that amplifies the voices of women and gender-diverse people in Melbourne’s Southern Metropolitan Region. Centering lived experience and collective wisdom, Elevate drives advocacy for gender equality, health equity, and social justice. As part of its work, the group has co-designed this year’s powerful 16 Days of Activism online campaign addressing tech-facilitated abuse, tailored specifically to the region and shaped by the voices of those most affected. Through collaboration, reflection, and action, Elevate is transforming awareness into tangible change empowering communities to challenge inequality and create safer, more inclusive systems.
Positioning Statement
We recognise technology-facilitated abuse (TFA) as a continuation of gendered violence, driven by rigid gender roles and gender inequality, which create the structural conditions for this abuse to occur. This campaign strengthens existing prevention efforts across all levels of the socio-ecological model and aims to build digital safety skills, challenge harmful norms, and support the capabilities of individuals, communities, and services. We recognise that women from marginalised communities are disproportionately impacted, facing intersecting oppressions including online barriers that affect the accessibility of resources. Please see the Digital Safety Framework we have used for this campaign.
Toolkit Resources
Quick links
How partners can support
- Share campaign posts and toolkit resources with your networks
- Encourage participation in the quiz and use of the interactive map
- Promote awareness of tech-based abuse and safe online practices
Together, we can amplify this message and ensure that communities across the SMR are informed, safe, and supported — both online and offline.
Acknowledgement
We gratefully acknowledge the generous support and expertise of Gippsland Women’s Health, whose StopTechAbuse campaign materials have been adapted for this initiative, and the eSafety Commissioner for providing valuable resources that make this campaign possible.
What is 16 Days of Activism?
16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is a global campaign dedicated to raising awareness about the impact of violence, particularly on women.
The campaign starts 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) and concludes 10 December (Human Rights Day). These dates symbolically link violence against women with human rights issues.
Gender-based violence is a deeply rooted in gender inequality and sexism, as well as forms of oppression ( racism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia and biphobia).
Awareness raising is the first step in the overall task of addressing violence against women and girls. Gendered violence is totally preventable. Australia and the world have a choice. A world without gendered violence is possible and this movement is about joint action to make this vision a reality.
The Facts
Globally 1 in 3 women experience gender-based violence during their lifetime.
In Australia,
- 1 in 2 has experience sexual harassment
- 1 in 3 women experience physical violence
- 1 in 5 has experience sexual violence
