ISLAMABAD, November 28 (DNA): In honor of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, the American Embassy will be lit with orange lights for several nights.

“During my time in Pakistan, I have met many inspiring and energetic Pakistani women and men who are advocating for the rights of women and minorities,” said Ambassador Hale.

“The 16 Days campaign reminds us that every one of us has a role to play in ensuring we all live and work in safe environments, with full access to educational and economic opportunities.  Protecting and advancing these rights benefits not only women and minorities, but society as a whole,” he added.

According to a statement issued by the US Embassy on Monday, the Center for Women’s Global Leadership at Rutgers University in the United States launched the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign in 1991.

The annual campaign runs from the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25 to International Human Rights Day on December 10.  The campaign’s timing symbolically links the prevention of violence against women with broader human rights issues.

The American Embassy supports women’s rights in Pakistan through a wide range of programs, including the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Gender Equity Project and a new partnership with the Women Win organization to empower adolescent girls to exercise their rights.