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Every year, Access Bank Plc participates in the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence campaign as part of the bank's sustainability agenda and zero-tolerance for human rights violation. The campaign runs annually from November 25 – December 10.

Violence against women and girls is a human rights violation. According to WHO, 35 per cent of women worldwide experience either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime.
    
Last year's campaign to end violence against women had a more serious air of solemnity as it took place amid rising cases of the violence globally. Following the outbreak of COVID-19, the UN Women said all types of violence against women and girls, particularly domestic violence, had intensified. The development called for renewed urgency for action against gender-based violence. Indeed, part of the effects of COVID-19 lockdowns was increased risk of domestic violence.    
    
Violence against women poses serious consequences to their health and well-being – the most severe consequence being death. WHO said intimate partner and sexual violence can result in short- and long-term physical, sexual and reproductive, and mental health problems. While males are also victims, females are disproportionately affected. Violence against women can lead to high social and economic costs for the women, their families and society.
    
During the launch of the Nigeria Sexual Offenders Registers in 2019, Nigerian Minister for Women Affairs and Social Development, Pauline Tallen, said about two million Nigerians (mainly women and girls) are raped every year. While the figure is not corroborated by any published research, a 2019 poll conducted by NOI Polls showed most Nigerians (85 per cent) believed there was a high prevalence of rape in the country.
    
Last year’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence campaign held under the global theme, “Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect!" In support of the campaign, Access Bank partnered with HACEY Health Initiative, a health-focused non-profit, to implement a public awareness campaign aimed at preventing and eliminating violence against women and girls in Lagos, Nigeria.
    
Among the activities of the awareness campaign was a webinar, which discussed leveraging innovation and technology to end gender-based violence. A website, called End Rape Culture, was launched in this regard. The site promotes messages and stories that generate awareness and encourage victims to report the abuse.
    
The FIFA 21 simulation video game that was launched last year also provided an opportunity for Access Bank and HACEY to bring together players of the game to foster discussions on ending violence against women. According to the bank, over 200,000 people were reached with information on the subject via traditional and social media platforms. The webinar also garnered over 310 participants and 297 people were engaged in the video game competition.