Join Us

Anyone can participate in Week Without Violence, in ways big or small. From planning and hosting an event or posting a campaign selfie, to registering others to vote, to contacting your legislators or engaging with us on social media, there are a number of ways to get involved with our campaign to end gender-based violence. Here are a few:

Hold your own Week Without Violence event

Want to host an event? You can host an event on your own or with a group (your company, organization, place of worship, etc.). Your event can be any size, take place anywhere, and even be a private event. Create a Week Without Violence account and access our digital toolkit to help you plan your event. The toolkit includes educational resources, promotional materials, and more. Once you’ve settled on a date and event, come back to register your event to gain access to a personalized event page! Here are a few ideas to get you started:

  • Use the fact sheets and materials from the toolkit to hold a virtual dialogue about gender-based violence in your community. Discuss how you can create better support for survivors of violence. Create a plan of action.
  • Hold a panel discussion with local leaders, advocates, experts, and other stakeholders.
  • Organize an awareness event such as a virtual event, film screening, or art exhibit.
  • Create space for survivors to share their experiences. This could be a creative event such as an open mic or it could be a more structured time of sharing.
  • Invite local elected officials to make a proclamation to end gender-based violence at a local press event. Then encourage them to create policies that support survivors.
  • Hold an event in partnership with or to support organizations in your community that provide gender-based violence services.

Attend a Week Without Violence event near you

Find an event in your community and help your friends and family register, as well. Encourage others to do the same. If you don’t see an event near you, organize one yourself! Check the map regularly to see any new events that get registered.

Take action in your community and with your elected officials

Start conversations about ending gender-based violence with local elected officials by using prompts and helpful resources from our toolkits. Don’t forget to create a Week Without Violence account to register your participation and your event to gain access to these resources and your own personalized event page url.

Join us for our national Week of Action activities from October 16-21, 2023

  • Monday, October 16: Imagine a World Without Violence
    When we envision a world without violence, we begin to build a path to creating that world. Help us raise awareness about gender-based violence, support survivors, and envision a world without violence! Take a Week Without Violence campaign selfie (or group photo) using one of our customizable signs, tag us on social and use#WWV23, and then tag five friends and challenge them to do the same! Can’t or don’t want to post a photo? Support us!
  • Tuesday, October 17: Advocacy Day of Action
    • Capitol Hill Call-In Day
      This Capitol Hill Call-In Day, we invite you to engage your Members of Congress by taking action online; calling your legislators; and engaging with these discussions on social media using #WWV23 and tweeting at your Member of Congress.
  • Wednesday, October 18: Global Day of Action
    On October 18, during YWCA’s global Week Without Violence, YWCA USA and YWCA Canada are teaming up to host a day of action to uplift survivors’ lived experiences and activate around what it means to truly be safe online – and we want you to be a part of this effort to make it a truly global movement! This is an opportunity to center the survivor community and coalesce as a global movement to spread awareness of the pervasiveness of gender-based violence around the world and to tell survivors: you are not alone.
  • Thursday, October 19: National Town Hall
    More information coming soon!
  • Friday, October 20: Twitter Storm
    Join us for an engaging Twitter chat from 2:00-3:00 p.m. ET, hosted by our team at @YWCAUSA! We will be discussing tech-facilitated gender-based violence, the harm it causes offline, and how to promote and ensure online safety. Participate in the conversation on Twitter using #WWV23.
  • Saturday, October 21: #SelfCareSaturday
    Service providers, advocates, and activists in the fight to end gender-based violence all care deeply about these issues, and about the survivors they help each and every day. Unfortunately, this work can also cause vicarious trauma for individuals as they work with survivors who have undergone serious trauma or can retraumatize individuals who are survivors themselves.Taking the time to engage in healing and self-care as a provider, advocate, activist, or survivor is an integral part of your own mental and physical well-being and will help make you an even more powerful advocate for your causes and clients.