Hunger strikes have long been used around the world as a powerful method of non-violent protest, spiritual discipline, and resistance against injustice. While the purpose remains the same—to draw attention and demand change—the methods vary widely in intensity and risk.
Activists and individuals adopt different approaches, ranging from complete fasting without food and water, which can quickly become life-threatening, to water-only strikes that can last for weeks. Some choose liquid-based fasts with juice or milk, while others opt for symbolic or partial fasts that last a set period, such as 12 or 24 hours.
In many mass movements, protesters also employ relay hunger strikes, where participants take turns fasting to keep the protest alive without endangering any single individual’s health.
Though differing in method, all forms of hunger strikes carry a common message: a determined act of peaceful defiance and a call for justice.
