Contributed by: NANE Women's Rights Assocation, Hungary National VAW Monitor

The Hungarian 16 days were, for the first time, organized by a group of NGOs both from the field of domestic violence and from other professional backgrounds. The organization of events started 2 months before the official campaign date and ended with an unprecedented number and variety of public events. The NGOs started a listserv where a number of private individuals also joined. The NGOs taking part were NANE Women’s Rights Association, Habeas Corpus Working Group, Amnesty International Hungary, Humanista Mozgalom (Humanist Movement), Kortarsak Egyutt a Fiatalokert Egyesulet (Peers Together for Young People Association), and Zold Fiatalok (Green Youth). Some of this year's events were already organized in the previous years, but this year is heavily characterized by the much larger number of organizations and people taking part. Some of the main joint activities of the 16 days are:

25 November White and Purple Ribbon Campaign directed at MPs

A letter and a white/purple ribbon were sent to all the Hungarian MPs. The coordinator of the event was Amnesty International Hungary (www.amnesty.hu).

24 November, 1 December, and 8 December Lectures and talks

Lectures and workshops will be held about DV in one of the most prestigious universities of the capital. As part of this event the Spanish film on DV ‘Sólo Mía’ will be shown. The film will be followed by a facilitated discussion about domestic violence.

27 November Silent Witness March

Such a march has been organized for the 4^th time in Hungary. The Silent Witnesses are life-size female figures made wood, painted in red. Each figure bears a true story of a woman killed in domestic violence. The stories are taken from police and media reports of the past 12 months. The original organizer of the event is NANE Women’s Rights Association. (www.silentwitness.net, www.nane.hu)

The march started from the Residence of MPs, passed the Ministry of Justice and ended at the Parliament where the names of the people killed in family violence during the last 12 months were read out by public figures such as sociologists, politicians, and actors as well as representatives of NGOs.

10 December Human Rights Festival

In a well-known club area popular with young people right next to one of the most central underground stations of the capital, a festival will be organized on human rights on the international day of human rights. The host organization of the event is the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (Tarsasag a Szabadsagjogokert, www.tasz.hu).

25 November, 2 December, and 9 December Feminist Reading Circle

A talk will be held among the usual meetings of the Circle on sexual harassment. (www.feminigen.hu)

25 November – 10 December every day from 15:00 to 20:00 Information service and open theatre

In the hall of one of the biggest underground stations of the capital for the duration of the 16 days, an information stand will be provided with leaflets about VAW and DV in general, and plays will be acted out for passengers taking the passage of the underground station. (www.humanista.hu)