Orange the World: 16 days of campaigning against violence against women

Orange the World is a global campaign that raises awareness of violence against women and girls worldwide. The campaign begins on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and ends on 10 December, International Human Rights Day. Throughout this period, various events and initiatives are organised around the world to draw attention to this issue. The campaign is also recognisable through its distinctive orange handprint, while buildings and streets are illuminated in orange as a sign of solidarity. In Leiden, too, the campaign is supported every year through various initiatives, both within and outside the university.

A brief history: what is Orange the World?

In 2000, the United Nations officially designated 25 November as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. This initiative was established by UN Women, a specialised United Nations agency dedicated to promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls worldwide. The date commemorates the murder of the three Mirabal sisters, who fought for women's rights in the Dominican Republic. Since 2000, this day has been commemorated on an increasingly extensive scale, with activities taking place in more than 100 countries worldwide.

Since 2014, the campaign has also been associated with the colour orange. Prominent landmarks, such as the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin and the Sphinx, have been illuminated in orange, alongside countless government buildings and other institutions. The colour represents a sunrise and the beginning of a world free from violence against women. The organisation itself describes this as a positive approach: “We believe that this future should be achievable, and by using the colour orange, we celebrate that moment.”

The initiative has since developed into a 16-day campaign, during which various activities and initiatives take place around the world. The Netherlands first participated in 2015, with activities taking place in The Hague. Participation gradually increased each year, and since 2021, more than 200 Dutch municipalities have taken part. The campaign has also been active in Leiden for several years, where various initiatives are organised in collaboration with local businesses and organisations. One well-known initiative is the annual illumination of the Koornbeursbrug in orange.

In addition to organising activities and other initiatives, Orange the World also raises funds for the Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women. This is a global fund that provides financial support for initiatives aimed at helping women and girls worldwide. The fund has already made a significant impact on the lives of many women and girls, but additional funding is needed to support more initiatives. During Orange the World, efforts are therefore made to raise further funds for this purpose.

Why is this important?

Gloabally, one in three women and girls experiences physical, sexual or psychological violence during her lifetime. Femicide, defined as the intentional killing of a woman or girl specifically because of her gender, claims approximately 83,000 lives worldwide every year. These forms of violence do not even encompass the full extent of the problem. Culturally normalised behaviour, such as street harassment, also plays a significant role in the lives of countless women and girls.

The initiatives organised as part of Orange the World seek to bring all these forms of violence to public attention and combat them. These efforts remain highly relevant in the Netherlands as well: 45% of Dutch women report having experienced some form of violence. This figure underlines the importance of continuing to draw attention to this issue every year, both nationally and locally in Leiden.

Unfortunately, violence continues to pose a threat to women and girls worldwide. Learning to recognise violence, making it a subject of open discussion and considering ways to prevent and combat it should therefore be central to these 16 days of international awareness and action.

Activities within and outside the university

This year, numerous activities will once again be organised in Leiden and The Hague. Among other buildings, the Academy Building, Wereldmuseum Leiden and The Hague City Hall will be illuminated in orange. In addition, a wide range of activities will take place throughout the 16-day campaign. An overview is provided below.

Activities

24 November: A conversation with author Tamara Hill about her book Alles voor mijn man. In this book, she explores psychological abuse in relationships. At The Hague Escamp Library, she will give a compelling lecture about her debut novel from 10:15 to 12:15. The lecture will also take place on 27 November, 30 November and 10 December. Registration is free and available through the library's website.

24 November: Night Against Femicide. On this evening, Leiden University will present the results of the Femicide Monitor at its The Hague Campus (Wijnhaven location) and officially open the new Knowledge Centre for Gender-Based Violence. Doors open at 18:45, and the programme begins at 19:15.

25 November, 17:00–22:00: Mini-festival at Theater de Vaillant in The Hague. Throughout the evening, the theatre will host a mini-festival focusing on themes related to Orange the World. Through theatre performances, workshops, lectures and various other programme activities, the festival aims to raise awareness of these issues. For the full programme and tickets, visit their website: https://devaillant.nl/agenda/orange-the-world-wereld-van-vrouwen-111576445.

25 November, 18:45: Campaign launch at Beestenmarkt in Leiden. The campaign will officially launch with various activities, including workshops and a reading by City Poet Raymond Tilma. Members of the public are encouraged to attend and wear orange in support of the campaign.

25 and 26 November, 18:00–20:00: A conversation with author Tessel ten Zweege. She writes books about femicide and violence against women and has contributed to several documentaries addressing these subjects. As part of Orange the World, she will give a lecture on these issues. On 25 November, the lecture will take place at The Hague Segbroek Library, followed by a session at The Hague Laakkwartier Library on 26 November. She will give the lecture once more in the afternoon on 28 November. Registration is free and available through the libraries' website.

25 and 26 November, and 8 and 9 December: Special musical programme by the Residentie Orkest. Over these four days, The Hague's Residentie Orkest will organise a special musical programme dedicated to Orange the World, with performances taking place across four neighbourhoods in The Hague. For further information and tickets, visit their website: https://denhaag.com/nl/agenda/residentie-orkest-orange-the-world.

21, 27, 28 and 29 November: Special theatre programme STOP FEMICIDE at Theater de Generator. Through four different performances, the theatre will draw attention to subjects and themes related to the campaign.

29 November: Theatre performance Achter Gesloten Deuren at Theater Ins Blau.

3 December, 19:30: Bystander Intervention Training. During this training session, Fairspace will address the steps that can be taken when someone in your surroundings experiences violence. Participation is free. Registration is available via info@vrouwennetwerkleiden.nl.

8 December, 17:00–19:00: A conversation with author Yesim Candan. Throughout her career, this author has contributed in various ways to making issues surrounding violence against women more openly discussable. She has also contributed to broader discussions about diversity in the Netherlands. This evening, she will participate in a discussion at The Hague Schilderswijk Library, addressing themes such as femicide, emancipation and the power of change. Registration is free and available through the library's website.

9 December: Lecture at The Hague City Hall. In the Burgerzaal of City Hall, documentary filmmaker Miranda Freriks will give a lecture on Orange the World, commissioned by the VVAO (Association of Women with an Academic Education).

12 December: Write for Rights organised by Amnesty Leiden/Leiderdorp. This event will be organised in connection with Orange the World.

Aletta in Actie (Aletta in Action)

Beyond Orange the World, it is important to continue addressing issues relating to the position of women and girls through other initiatives. In this context, the nationwide initiative Aletta in Action will be organised. This initiative advocates greater freedom and safety for women in the Netherlands. It is a joint initiative involving the government, educational institutions and civil society organisations, all working towards the structural improvement of women's freedom and safety in the Netherlands.

To gather ideas and identify potential solutions, Aletta in Action is organising a tour of seventeen major university and educational cities across the Netherlands. During this tour, educational institutions, government bodies and civil society organisations are brought together. They engage in discussions about the problems women experience and possible ways of addressing them. The aim is to share knowledge and experiences and develop practical measures that can make a tangible difference.

The tour will continue until the end of 2027 and will conclude with a meeting in Amsterdam. The ideas and proposals collected throughout the tour will subsequently be compiled and presented to the Dutch Cabinet. On 14 January 2027, the tour will visit Leiden University, where it will focus on the theme “How Does the Judiciary Support Women?”

The ultimate objective of Aletta in Action is to achieve lasting change, ensuring that women's freedom and safety not only receive greater attention but also improve in practice.