2017 theme!

 

Last year Take Back the Tech! celebrated our tenth anniversary, which got us thinking about the movement to end gender-based violence (GBV), from its beginnings in the early 90s with the start of 16 Days of Action Against Gender-Based Violence and the UN's Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women to today's emerging and energetic movement around online GBV. What does that timeline look like? Who are the agitators? What are the key moments? Who has not been recognised? 

 

Get curious about your feminist history – and share it! 

 

What does the movement against gender-based violence look like from your perspective? What's missing from the mainstream narrative? What hidden struggles, stories and victories need to surface? Who has been leading work on violence against trans people, sex workers, people with disabilities and more? Who has been working in creative, subversive and radical ways?

 

Find your history by collecting old posters and pamphlets, buttons and badges, videos, songs and manifestos – all the exciting paraphernalia you've collected over the years. We'll let you know soon how to share it with us so we can display this beautiful collage of rage and joy for this year's 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (25 November – 10 December). 

 

In the meantime, reflect on the movement and share your thoughts. When did people start talking about GBV in your country? How did you first learn about it? What role has the internet played? What lessons should be preserved? How would you like to recognise the pioneering, forgotten or anonymous leaders in your community? Share your thoughts with the mailing list or write to sara.baker@apcwomen.org.

 

We are feminists, queer folks, artists, teachers, visionaries in the margins, and though corporations and institutions may try to co-opt our work, this is our movement and we're owning it. Let's look back at how far we've come to better understand how to move forward. We'll celebrate our collective power by carving our names in the scaffolding and building steps for new generations.