UNiTE for Change: Orange Our Villages and Our 16 Days of Collective Action Against Gender-Based Violence

From 25 November to 10 December 2025, EMPOWER PEOPLE joined the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence under the UNiTE Campaign, carrying forward a clear message across communities in Haryana and Assam: violence is preventable, and communities have the power to stop it. Under the banner “Orange Our Villages,” this campaign focused not only on awareness, but on prevention, accountability, and leadership—centering women, girls, youth, and grassroots leaders as drivers of change.

Why Orange Our Villages?

Because safety cannot be symbolic. Because prevention begins before violence occurs. And because villages, schools, and neighborhoods are where change must take root.

Investing in Prevention, Not Just Response

Throughout the 16 Days, our work reflected EMPOWER PEOPLE’s long-standing commitment to gender justice, trafficking prevention, digital safety, health rights, and survivor-centred, community-led solutions. The campaign aligned with UNiTE’s call to end violence against women and girls by strengthening local systems and investing in collective responsibility.

On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, we released the GBV Prevention Snapshot 2025, highlighting our focus on:

• Strengthening women’s and girls’ leadership

• Building resilient and informed communities

• Promoting digital safety and online risk awareness

• Disrupting trafficking and exploitation networks

This snapshot became a tool for dialogue—encouraging communities to see GBV prevention as a shared, long-term responsibility.

Listening to Girls, Engaging Youth

Across Haryana, interactive school-based sessions engaged adolescents in conversations on cyber safety, consent, child marriage, and trafficking risks. Students unpacked harmful norms, learned to recognise red flags online and offline, and discussed how to seek help and support peers. A poster competition themed “Invest in Girls’ Safety” gave young people space to express their hopes for safer, more equal futures.

In Assam, adolescent girls at our supplementary coaching centre participated in sessions on digital violence, consent, boundaries, trafficking indicators, and community accountability. Through handmade banners and open discussions, girls asserted their right to safety—demonstrating confidence, creativity, and leadership.

Across both states, one truth stood out clearly: informed girls are powerful agents of change.

Creating Safe Spaces for Women’s Voices

Community dialogue circles formed the heart of the campaign. These spaces allowed women and girls to speak, reflect, and stand together.

In Haryana, a Mahila Chaupal brought rural women together to discuss domestic violence, child marriage, and community responsibility. Women collectively reaffirmed that any information related to child marriage must be reported immediately—through helplines (112, 1091, 1098) or trusted local authorities such as the Sarpanch, Anganwadi Worker, or Child Marriage Prohibition Officer.Community leader Ms. Shilpa led conversations on standing with survivors, intervening during violence, and refusing silence. The session concluded with a community mapping exercise, reinforcing shared responsibility for safety. In Assam, adolescent girls and young women spoke candidly about domestic violence, consent, stigma, peer support, and the need for sensitive adults within communities. Their handmade banners amplified demands for dignity, respect, and safety.

Strengthening Frontline Response Systems

During the campaign, EMPOWER PEOPLE conducted capacity-building sessions for ASHAs, Anganwadi Workers, Panchayat representatives, and community women. These sessions focused on:

• Survivor-friendly referral pathways

• Understanding POCSO provisions

• Early identification of trafficking indicators

• Maternal health and pregnancy care

• Strengthening coordination between communities and service providers

By bridging gaps between frontline workers and communities, the campaign strengthened timely, informed, and compassionate responses to violence.

Accountability Through Social Audits

In Panipat and Jind, Social Audit Trainings under Orange Our Villages focused on transparency and justice. Women and vulnerable groups learned how to:

• Conduct step-by-step social audits

• Verify documents and entitlements

• Use grievance redressal mechanisms

• Identify gaps and prevent fraud in welfare schemes

Schemes such as Ladli Behna, PM-Kisan, and NRLM were discussed in detail. These sessions built confidence and collective ownership, with communities planning hands-on audits beyond the campaign period.

Health Rights, HIV Awareness, and Ending Stigma

The campaign also addressed the intersection of health rights and GBV, particularly HIV awareness. Discussions reinforced that while HIV is preventable and treatable, stigma and misinformation continue to disproportionately affect women and marginalized communities. Ending silence and building stigma-free, supportive environments emerged as critical acts of prevention.

Confronting Digital Violence and Trafficking

EMPOWER PEOPLE raised urgent concerns around digital violence and cross-border trafficking, especially in border districts where girls have gone missing due to online exploitation. Advocacy messages stressed that silence enables traffickers—and that prevention requires awareness, monitoring, and strong institutional accountability.

Youth as Allies, Not Bystanders

A Youth Leadership Session at an ITI in Karnal engaged 35 students in discussions on violence against women, including domestic abuse, dowry-related violence, stalking, digital exploitation, and neglect of women’s health.Students proposed practical actions—using helplines, forming youth support groups, guiding survivors, and spreading awareness—affirming that youth are essential allies in prevention.

Standing Against Bride Trafficking

In Assam, community leaders and Girls Club members used discussions, rallies, and a powerful street drama to expose trafficking tactics disguised as marriage proposals. In Karnal, community-led advocacy and rallies reinforced vigilance, identity verification, and early intervention. Across states, the message was clear: informed communities protect girls and refuse to be bystanders.

Celebrating Volunteers, Amplifying Women’s Leadership

On International Volunteer Day, members of Sakhi Mandal, Haryana’s state-level CBO, reaffirmed their commitment to challenge violence and discrimination. Men and boys also joined pledge-taking activities under “I Invest in Prevention,” committing to challenge harmful norms and act as allies.

Throughout the 16 Days, platforms like Paro Voice, Ami Paro, women-led CBOs, and education centres amplified stories of women transforming fear into leadership—reclaiming agency through collective strength.

Ending with Human Rights, Beginning with Action

On Human Rights Day, the campaign concluded with a powerful reminder: human rights are everyday essentials—voice, dignity, education, health, and economic opportunity. And women’s leadership is central to realising them.

Moving Forward

The 16 Days of Activism under UNiTE and Orange Our Villages showed us that lasting change grows from community-led action, informed dialogue, and shared responsibility. Across Haryana and Assam, women, girls, youth, men, and frontline workers came together to challenge violence, demand accountability, and build safer communities.

At EMPOWER PEOPLE, we remain committed to investing in prevention, amplifying grassroots voices, and ensuring that safety, dignity, and justice are not aspirations—but everyday realities for women and girls.