International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women 2025

25 November is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. It also marks the start of the United Nations’ 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence.

We join the 16 Days of Activism campaign to stand with women and girls leading change. We also help to raise awareness of ongoing gender-based violence impacting communities worldwide. This year’s theme UniTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls highlights the importance of protecting women and girls online.

Digital tools are increasingly misused to harm women and girls. They also offer powerful opportunities to connect, protect and empower. We’re working to ensure technology supports safety instead of undermining it. Online grooming, cyberstalking, tracking, catfishing, image-based abuse and misogynistic networks are becoming more prevalent. These acts can cause serious harm. They can often lead to violence offline, including coercive control and physical abuse.

The Australian government is investing in initiatives that support women and children to use technology safely – including initiatives that help communities and frontline workers to prevent and respond to tech-based abuse. This includes:

• targeted support for children experiencing tech-based abuse in family and domestic violence contexts
• resources to help adults, such as frontline workers and educators, work with children to identify early warning signs of tech-based abuse and assist them to seek support
• the Preventing Tech-Based Abuse of Women Program, led by eSafety
• a tech-based abuse support service for victim-survivors and frontline staff
• ongoing training of frontline workers to recognise and respond to technology-facilitated violence, with more than 20,000 workers receiving training since 2025
• the Safe Connections initiative – providing women with a phone to leave a violent relationship safely without fear of being tracked to a new location.

Visit the eSafety website to learn more about tech-based domestic and family violence(Opens external website). This includes tips for staying safe online.

Get involved

Ending gender-based violence is everyone’s responsibility. By taking action, online and offline, we can build communities that are safe, inclusive and respectful for all. You can take action in many ways:

• Learn and share information from campaigns that reject and prevent digital violence against women and girls. This includes UN Women(Opens external website).
• Support frontline workers and services providing support to victim-survivors. This could be by helping to raise awareness or volunteering.
• Host or take part in digital safety sessions in your workplace or local community.
• Register for eSafety’s dedicated webinar series about online abuse(Opens external website).
• Join UN Women Australia’s Safe. Everywhere. Always. walking challenge(Opens external website).
• Wear or display the colour orange – a symbol of hope and a future free from violence.

Read more about what we are doing to end gender-based violence(Opens external website).

For support

If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit 1800respect.org.au(Opens external website) for online chat and video call services. 1800RESPECT is a free and confidential service, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or for 24/7 judgement-free support visit ntv.org.au(Opens external website).

Feeling worried or no good? Connect with 13YARN Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporters on 13 92 76, available 24/7 from any mobile or pay phone, or visit 13yarn.org.au(Opens external website). No shame, no judgement, safe place to yarn.

In an emergency, call 000. For crisis support or suicide intervention services, call 13 11 14 for Lifeline Australia.