Annually, from November 25 to December 10, the international campaign “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” takes place globally and in Ukraine. In 2025, it was held under the slogan Small Things Matter.
For the fourth year of the full-scale war in Ukraine, millions of people have been living in uncertainty, experiencing loss and trauma. Under such circumstances, simple actions take on special significance: words of support, a willingness to listen, timely assistance, or a reminder that a person is not left alone with their difficulties. It is at the community level — where IDP Councils operate, and daily interaction with internally displaced persons is developed — that these small things become important steps toward a sense of safety and trust.
Participation of IDP Councils
The chosen theme emphasizes that preventing and responding to gender-based violence (GBV) is a shared responsibility. It encompasses various levels: from state institutions and international organizations to communities, families, and individuals. Institutional support is critically important, yet it is at the local level — in communities where IDP Councils operate — that an environment of trust, support, and safety for survivors is created.
The goal of the Small Things Matter campaign is to raise awareness of shared responsibility for preventing GBV and responding to such cases, demonstrating that the contribution of every individual matters, even if it seems small. It is these small acts that make up big changes in the lives of people and communities.
Events within the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign took place with the participation of IDP Councils from 23 regions of Ukraine. A total of 23 events were held in person, online, and in a hybrid format (online and offline). They combined the topics of internal displacement and risks of gender-based violence. A total of 405 participants attended the events.
Important issues addressed included:
- Internal displacement as a factor of increased risk of violence: analysis of social, cultural, and gender factors that make IDPs more vulnerable to gender-based violence;
- Societal attitudes and norms that contribute to the toleration of violence, particularly the phenomenon of “invisible consent” as a form of societal complicity;
- Psychological aspects of perceiving and silencing GBV;
- Practical prevention and response: developing skills to recognize violence, respond safely, and support survivors;
- The role of the IDP Council: developing concrete proposals and recommendations for raising awareness about GBV in communities.
IDP Councils became involved through participation in educational events, roundtables, meetings, master classes, discussions, and the dissemination of information about support services for survivors, as well as interaction with civil society organizations and law enforcement.
In various settlements, meeting and event participants played the board game To Be a Woman. This is an anti-discrimination game developed by the team of the Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” with the support of the Ukrainian Women’s Fund, serving as an educational tool to teach the basics of tolerance and mutual respect. The main idea is to provide an opportunity to step into the shoes of one of the game’s eight characters and experience all facets of a modern Ukrainian woman’s life firsthand.
Key Meanings
The campaign reminded us of key principles:
- Responsibility for overcoming violence is shared;
- Systemic changes begin with everyday actions;
- Support may seem insignificant, small, but for a survivor, it can be decisive.
Formally, the 16 Days of Activism ended on December 10, but countering gender-based violence remains a daily task for communities. For IDP Councils, this means continuing work in the areas of safety and rights protection, information and referral, partnership with social services, and developing society’s sensitivity to the needs of vulnerable groups.
The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign was launched in 1991 and currently covers over 180 countries. It symbolically connects two key dates:
- November 25 — International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
- December 10 — Human Rights Day.
This serves as a reminder: gender-based violence is not a “private matter,” but a violation of human rights.
This publication was made with the support of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine. The content of the publication is the sole responsibility of the Charitable Organization “Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” and does not reflect the views of UNHCR.