The UNiTE Campaign 2023 theme for 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence ‘Invest to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls with a focus on the importance of financing different prevention strategies to stop violence from occurring in the first place.’ It highlights the importance of collective action and commitment to address all forms of violence against women and girls. 

The campaign is a multi-year advocacy effort aimed at preventing and eliminating Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) around the world. UNiTE calls on governments, development actors, civil society, women’s organizations, young people, the private sector, the media and the entire UN system to join forces in addressing violence against women and girls. 

The UN Sri Lanka is a strong advocate of collective action and commitment from all stakeholders to eliminate all forms of gender-based violence. To mark this campaign, UN Sri Lanka in collaboration with the Government of Sri Lanka undertook a walk under the theme ‘Act Now to End Violence Against Women and Girls’. The aim was to elevate the call to end all forms of violence against women and girls. Supported by the United Nations Country Team in collaboration with all line ministries, and the Parliament Select Committee on Gender Equality, Women Parliamentarians' Caucus Sri Lanka, development partners, international organizations, business leaders, civil society, and other stakeholders, the objective was to take a collective stand and create awareness.

UNFPA Sri Lanka led the event with support from the UN Communications Group and Outcome Working Group 06 on “Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment.” The event was an opportunity for all UN Agencies to collectively come together with their respective government partners and other stakeholders to create awareness on preventing gender-based violence. The walk also provided participants with placards carrying key messages on preventing gender-based violence.