A 16 day campaign to end gender based violence has been launched in Ulaanbaatar between November 25th and December 10th, 2013. The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence is an international campaign originating from the first Women”s Global Leadership Institute sponsored by the Center for Women”s Global Leadership in 1991. Since 1991, approximately 1,700 organizations in 130 countries have participated in the 16 Days Campaign.

The campaign was organized in 2010 Mongolia with theme of “girls and women have the right to be safe”. This year 20 organizations have joined the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence international campaign under theme of “Real protection –changes of law”.  The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence was first launched in Mongolia by the initiative of the National Center Against Violence of Mongolia in 1997.

Over 2000 organizations across 130 countries are participating in the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence international campaign, uniting globally under one goal and one call.

To support the launch of the international campaign on Monday, the United Nations Population Fund, National Committee for Gender Equality, Mongolian Red Cross Society, Ulaanbaatar Metropolitan Police, National Center Against Violence, the “Princess” Center for the Protection of Girls and Young Women”s Rights and the Mongolian Men”s Association jointly released reports on the issue.

According to the report domestic violence records have increased in Mongolia in recent years. In the last three years the report showed that of 43 deaths and 982 injuries caused by domestic violence in Mongolia, 87 percent of the victims were women and girls. The most common type of violence against girls and women included domestic violence, sexual abuse of women at the workplace, discrimination, sexual abuse, rape, sexual slavery and human trafficking.

According to the latest report, one of every two women in Mongolia has been the victim of violence.