Women’s rights are human rights. The Netherlands joins the UN Women's annual global Orange The World campaign to call attention to ending violence against women and girls. Day after day, women are subjected to violence. Women and girls we know. In the Netherlands, 45% of women will experience physical or sexual violence at some point in their lives. Worldwide, this number rises to one in three. This makes violence against women one of the most widespread human rights violations worldwide.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Veldkamp underscores the urgency of taking action: "Violence against women is an everyday reality. We have to act, and we have to act now, for all the women who could face violence tomorrow. It is our shared responsibility, of both women and men, of every single one of us."

Orange The World marks the start of an international 16-day campaign running from 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) to 10 December (International Human Rights Day). It symbolically links gender-based violence and human rights and emphasises that such violence is a violation of human rights.

The campaign takes its name from the colour orange, symbolizing a brighter, violence-free future. Each year, in over 100 countries, iconic buildings and landmarks are lit in orange, while events such as debates, exhibitions, and demonstrations are held to inspire action. Funds are also raised for the ‘Trust Fund to End Violence against Women’, the largest global fund to prevent and stop violence against women and girls.

Orange the World 2024: Femicide

This year, the campaign highlights femicide: the intentional killing of women and girls. Tens of thousands of women are murdered annually, often by an intimate partner or family member. This is the most brutal, visible, and extreme manifestation. The Netherlands is committed to the prevention and elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls as a matter of human rights. On 10 December, colleagues of the Dutch Embassy in the UK therefore organise a closed expert sessions in London with Dutch and British counterparts to discuss femicide.

"ZYYZ" by Simon Heijdens

From 25 November until 10 December, the Embassy's facade will draw attention. A temporary artwork by artist Simon Heijdens in the shape of a flag will emit a bright orange light. This installation merges with the traditional and expected features of the Embassy facade and the symbolism of flags, yet catches your attention with its bright glow. As the flag moves, directed by the wind, it casts a moving, glowing light pattern onto the building directly.

Simon Heijdens is a Dutch artist based in London. Heijdens creates artworks that continuously transform and evolve in response to their surroundings, such as weather and human interaction. His works are part of the permanent collections of museums such as MoMA New York, the Art Institute of Chicago, Boijmans van Beuningen Museum Rotterdam, and the Victoria and Albert Museum London, and shown at Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, Haus der Kunst Munich and Garage Museum of Contemporary Art Moscow, among others.

By sharing stories, raising awareness, and taking action, we can create a world free from violence against women and girls. Let’s ‘Orange the World’ together!