From 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10 December, Human Rights Day, the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign, is a time recognized to raise awareness and take action to end violence against women and girls around the world. 

IOM Jordan supported activities taking place in at Azraq refugee camp by taking part in an exercise with International Medical Corps at the camp on 30 November. Together with a Female Graffiti artist, IOM and partners from IMC painted messages and graffiti on the caravans at arrival areas in the camp, mapping protection and safe spaces for new arrivals. 

The images help to convey important protection messages to female headed-households and their dependents, who may be illiterate, as well as providing powerful visual communication about this issue to all passing through this area of the camp. 

There are currently 5464 women and girls in Azraq, with the majority of those under the age of 18 – 26.6% of the camps total refugee population – making this campaign important for the refugees at Azraq. 

The international campaign originated from the first Women's Global Leadership Institute coordinated by the Center for Women's Global Leadership in 1991. The 16 Days Campaign has been used over the years to raise awareness of the reality of domestic violence and to push for positive change to increase women's safety. 

To find out more about UN Women’s work to prevent gender-based violence and the activities of the 16 days campaign, click here: http://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/ending-violence-against-women