 2005 International Calendar of Campaign Activities
AFRICA
REGIONAL
ActionAid
Contact: fightVAWandHIV@actionaid.org
ActionAid, an international organization, created a poster and brochure for their country level offices to encourage participation in the 16 Days campaign. Click on the following links to view their materials: Poster, Brochure Front, Brochure Back.
Civicus
Contact: cswcommunity@civicus.org
Civicus reported the following news in relation to the 2005 16 Days campaign:
- AFRICA: Protocol ushers in new rights protections for African women
25 November – Marking the start of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights Relating to Women’s Rights in Africa entered into force, ushering in new protections for African women. The Protocol is a triumph of collaboration between African civil society and the member states of the African Union. While working from previous women's rights achievements, the Protocol reflects the specific rights violations experienced by African women, which are not adequately acknowledged in other international and regional human rights instruments such as CEDAW (The Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women).
To read more, visit: http://www.civicus.org/new/content/protectionsforAfricanwomen.htm
- ZIMBABWE: Halt arrests of women human rights defenders
25 November - Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) appeals to the Zimbabwean government and police to refrain from arresting its members during their campaign for 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence. In WOZA's three year existence, over 800 of its members have spent up to 48 hours in prison, many more than once. On 31 March this year, over 265 women and 20 babies were imprisoned overnight for holding an election night prayer vigil. WOZA is a movement dedicated to empowering women to speak out and advocate for change and a solutions to the current crisis in Zimbabwe. WOZA is an Ndebele word meaning "come forward."
To read the press release, visit: http://www.civicus.org/new/content/WOZA.htm
- MYANMAR (BURMA): End state violence against women
25 November - The Women's League of Burma (WLB) calls for the Burmese government to end systematic violence against women, including the unlawful arrest of women activists. The state has failed to introduce legislation to protect women, says WLB, and it continues to neglect the health, education and social welfare of its people. In addition to ignoring violence against women, it has also sentenced women activists for criticising the state. In 2002, women's organisations exposed the Burmese army for systematically using rape as a weapon of war against the country's ethnic minorities. The report, Licence to Rape documented 173 cases of rape, involving 625 women and girls in the Shan province. Updated research has documented a further 188 rapes used as a "strategy of war" in the past three years.
To read the full alert, visit: http://www.womenofburma.org/Statement&Release/nov25_eng.pdf
Other resources:
http://www.humanrightshouse.org/d11vis5.asp?id=3856
http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm?aid=2465
http://www.cyberdyaryo.com/features/f2005_1105_02.htm
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DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
Centro de Encuentros Cultura y Mujer - CECYM (Argentina); Le Monde Selon Les Femmes (Belgique); CONAFED (République démocratique du Congo); ACSUR Las Segovias (España); GRAAL (Portugal); avec l’aide de L’Union Européene
Contact: pascale@mondefemmes.org
The above groups have collaborated on an international campaign entitled “ Globalization and new forms of violence against women” (Mondialisation et nouvelles formes de violence faites aux femmes/Globalización y nuevas formas de violencia hacia las mujeres). See the following websites for more information, in both Spanish and French: http://www.mondefemmes.org/nouvelles/campraac.asp, http://www.cecym.org.ar/campanias.shtml?sh_itm=0779e829571e729e4bc5d976b9b541a0. Click HERE for the brochure describing the campaign (in French). Click on the following images for a larger view of the posters (in French).
Initiatives Femmes Enfants et Developpement and partners
Contact: Edouard Kabazimya, Chairperson, IFED, ifed_wcdi@yahoo.fr
Initiatives Femmes Enfants et Developpement - IFED in partnership with 24 other women and youth organizations in South Kivu Province organized a Marathon from November 17 to December 10 for the collection of signatures against rape and other forms of sexual violence in the country. Partner organizations include: Umoja wa Wanawake Wakulima wa Kivu, Collège des étudiants de l’ISP/Bukavu, Radio Maendeleo.ibanda, Carrefour des enfants du Congo (CARECO), Union pour l’ Emancipation de la femme Autochtone (UEFA), Halt-SIDA: Jeunes qui luttent contre le sida, Euvre de Promotion des initiatives des femmes transporteuses, Débout Femme Africaine (DFA), Cris de secours aux enfants marginalisés, EP Lycée Wima, Congolese Action for Peace and Democracy (CAPD), Syndicat d’initiative de Kasha (Sikash), and Association des mamans pour la lutte contre la délinquance féminine et la protection des enfants abandonnés et orphelins (AMALDEFEA). The objective of the 22 days campaign is to pressure government officials of the interim government of the DRC to take the following actions:
- Ratify the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples on the Rights of Women in Africa and implement it by reviewing all national laws, policies, practices and procedures to ensure that they meet the obligations set out in the Protocol.
- Establish a systematic and comprehensive program to provide health and psychological care for survivors of sexual violence.
- Provide victims of sexual violence with social and economic options and develop income generating activities. These options will allow them to maintain their livelihoods and dignity.
- End impunity for violence against women and ensure that laws, rules, regulations and military orders prohibit violence against women and provide for appropriate punishments for perpetrators.
Click here for a description of the Marathon: English, French.
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ETHIOPIA
ActionAid Ethiopia
Contact: mintwab_z@yahoo.com
Activities by ActionAid Ethiopia included radio announcements, white ribbon distribution to school teachers, drama show for the community, a half-day meeting with representatives of civil society groups working in the vicinity and government officials in order to discuss issues of women's human rights.
Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association (EWLA) and Network of Ethiopian Women’s Association (NEWA)
Contact: ewla@ethionet.et
On Friday November 25, 2005, an event was held. A press release was given about this particular event. The opening speech was given by the Deputy Minister from Ministry of Women Affairs. There was a documentary film show based on a true story as well as a photography exhibition. A public discussion followed. The event received media coverage.
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ARK Foundation
Contact: thearkgh@yahoo.co.uk
The Ark will hold events to commemorate this year’s celebration. A Market Outreach and Street Campaign on domestic violence/gender-based violence will be held at Kasoa. A Clothesline Project will be held displaying banners and posters. Visits will be conducted to network partners in the Eastern Region. Programmes are open and all are cordially invited to participate. The following are specific activities that will take place:
- 25 November 2005: Text messages will be sent to Joy FM, Peace FM and Citi FM
- 25 November: 16 Days - Press Releases
- 26 November 2005 - 10 December 2005: letters to the editors will be sent to newspapers in support of the DV bill retaining of repeal of section 42g
- 1 December: World AIDS Day - Press Releases
- 7 December: The Ark will join WISE in their White Ribbon Campaign at Tema
- 8 December: Women’s Conference
- December 2005: Open Space Dialogue on Gender Violence for Health Personnel
Ghana Rural Action Support Programme
Contact: graspasewa@yahoo.com
GRASP in Ghana organized an advocacy match with several women and girls infected with HIV/AIDS in protest for free access to Anti Retroviral Therapy. Many of them are dying in the villages because they can not afford transportation to access the drug which is only available in the capital cities of Ghana. Many of the people infected are in the rural and remote areas of Ghana. We are advocating for universal access to the HIV/AIDS treatment.
Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF Ghana)
Contact: wildaf@ucomgh.com
Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF Ghana) is a pan-African non-governmental non-profit women's rights network dedicated to promoting and strengthening strategies which link law and development to increase women's participation and influence at the community, national and international levels. As part of the 2005 global campaign of 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence, WiLDAf launched posters under the title "Faces of Violence." It is a project that involved a collection of pictures of abused women created into posters. The objective was to support educational activities that the Ministry is carrying out on the domestic violence bill by garnering more support for its passage. The Guest Speaker for the occasion is the Minister for Women and Children's Affairs, Hon. Hajia Alima Mahama. Details of the launch were as follows:
Date: Tuesday, 29th of November 2005
Venue: British Council Auditorium, Accra
Time: 9:30am-12.30pm
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KENYA
Catholic Diocese of Nakuru
Contact: cdn-jap@africaonline.co.ke
The Catholic Diocese of Nakuru had a very big campaign forum on the 25th November 05 at East-Pokot sub-district. The event targeted the girl-child and boy child: while the girl does not go to school and is subjected to FGM and early marriage, the boy does not go to school and is forced to stay at home and look after cattle. On December 10, together with other members of the Kenyan human rights network, a rally and procession took place in Nakuru to address issues of internally displaced persons, Sisal plantation workers, Hawkers and clashes that are prevalent in the Rift valley region.
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NIGERIA
Alliances for Africa (AfA)
Contact: onyinye@alliancesforafrica.org
AfA mobilized women's groups and networks in Imo and Ebonyi states both in south-east Nigeria to organise activities to discuss this year's campaign theme in their communities. AfA provided technical support by ensuring that women's networks in these states had successful outing in this year's campaign. Educational materials were dispatched to these networks on the history of the 16 days campaign and the linkages between violence against women and HIV/AIDS. A radio discussion programme was held on the theme during the 16 day period.
Civil Resource Development and Documentation Centre (CIRDDOC)
Contact: cirddoc@aol.com, cirddoc@rbow.net, nwankwooby@yahoo.com
The Civil Resource Development and Documentation Centre (CIRDDOC) Nigeria ended the 16 days campaign with a rally at Awka, Anambra State of Nigeria targeted at Traditional institutions that harbour customary laws which support violence against women. There were presentations on human rights, gender and violence against women in the local language. There were over 100 participants and they had time to bare their minds on what drives the customs and why they must remain. In fact one of the women, a leader of a very powerful women's group, known as "Awo Mmili" stated that the widowhood practices had been with them for a very long time and it would be futile to seek a change in that direction now. Her reason was that the consequences of disobedience were clear: any woman who fails to submit to some of the practices such as the shaving of the hair would die a miserable death one year after the death of her husband. She said that before that painful death, the widow would have a swollen abdomen and swollen feet. At that point, a CIRDDOC member stood up and told the crowd that she is a widow and that she refused to submit to all the fetish practices; yet, three years after her husband's death she is still alive and well. She asked the crowd if her abdomen looked swollen to them; there was a resounding "NO". She asked if her feet looked swollen to them, a shout of "NO" rented the air. She told them that she is a living testimony that all the myth behind the oppressive practices has been debunked. There was a standing ovation after that session. One of the opinion leaders, a man, said that denial of inheritance rights to girls and women arose from the fact that it would be unfair for women to inherit twice - at their maiden family and their marital family - while men will only inherit once. A response came immediately that women do not have inheritance rights in their marital homes unless they have male children. They were made to understand that even at that, giving a male child a share in the inheritance does not translate to a share to his mother. The point was also made that a woman who does not have a male issue does not have any part of the estate and this amounted to injustice. There were interesting exchanges and at the end of the rally there were commitments from the women themselves as well as the traditional rulers and opinion leaders to put a stop to some of the practices that amount to violence against women.
Legal Defense and Assistance Project (LEDAP)
Contact: bebebiko@yahoo.com
LEDAP held the following activities for the 16 Days campaign in 2005:
- Distribution of the UN Confidential VAW Form: The form was reproduced in an issue of LEDAP’s “GENDER issues,” a quarterly publication that is distributed to other NGOs. It was also distributed to other NGOs and to the members of the Blue Ribbon Network, a network of Nigerian men working together against domestic violence;
- An opinion piece on 25 November/3 December 2005 in Nigerian newspapers: The opinion piece highlighted the links between domestic violence and HIV/AIDS. LEDAP aimed at having it published in two to three national newspapers;
- An article on the 16 Days of Activism and the 2005 campaign in the next “GENDER issues;”
- A sensitization session with Lagos State Police on domestic violence and the draft Domestic Violence Bill currently at the State House of Assembly;
- A joint letter/statement with other women’s organizations to the President asking for 25 November to be made National Day against violence against women;
- Requested that the Blue Ribbon Network of Men Against Domestic Violence undertake activities on their own such as a rally and press statements.
Teachers Without Borders
Contact: kenchigo144@yahoo.com.hk
Below is the programme of events held by Teachers Without Borders in Nigeria. They grouped activities to revolve around the three major dates of the campaign: November 25, December 1 and December 10. The following agencies were approached for collaboration in the campaign: Ministry of women Affairs and Social Development, Imo State Government, Nigerian Police Imo State Command, National Council of Women Society in Imo State, National Orientation Agency in Imo State, National Association of Women Journalists in Imo State, Police Officers Wives Association in Imo State and the Federation of Women Lawyers in Imo State.
Programme Dates and Activities:
Activity 1:
November 25, 2005 (Int'l Woman Right Day)
Event: essay competition for girl students in secondary schools. Topic of the essay: “violence against women and the hope of women in the millennium development goal by the year 2015." Purpose of the essay: to create awareness among young women in Nigeria about the objectives and goals of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and encourage them to work towards its realization. Expected number of participants: 1000 female students in secondary schools. Prizes to be won: there will be prizes for first, second and third winners and ten consolation prizes.
Activity 2:
December 1, 2005 (Worlds Aids Day)
Events: (a) drama presentation on violence against women and HIV/AIDS by a selected secondary school in imo state nigeria for a one day awareness campaign on HIV/AIDS for selected secondary schools in the state. (b) debate presentation with the topic "rape accounts for the increasing cases of HIV/AIDS among young women." Girls will propose the debate while boys will oppose it. (c) impromptu speeches. (d) distribution of leaflets and tracts on HIV/AIDS avoidance behavior
Activity 3:
December 10, 2005 (International Human Rights Day)
Events: (a) public lecture on the topic: "formal education for women a veritable ingredient in fight against gender violence in negria" (b) award ceremonies: (i) supporter of women empowerment awards (2 people) (ii)supporter of women right awards (2 people) (iii)special couples awards (2 couples). (c) prize winners: essay winners (3 people) essay consolation prize winners (10 people).
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SOUTH AFRICA
The publication “ Gender Justice Barometer 2005: An audit of commitments made during the 2004 South African cyber dialogues” was launched. From the GenderLinks announcement: “Each year in South Africa this campaign has gained momentum as government and civil society join hands to expose the horror that still lurks in our newly democratic society. But what difference has the campaign made? This audit of the commitments made during the 2004 Cyber Dialogues that accompanied the campaign takes a hard look at whether we are doing enough to turn the high profile campaign into change where it really matters: the lives of women. It concludes that unless we commit ourselves to a National Action Plan to end Gender Violence, with targets, timeframes, indicators, clear roles and responsibilities, the campaign will become irrelevant.” Click on the publication for a link to the website with more information. Price: R50/$10
The Media Monitoring Project; the Media Institute of Southern Africa; GenderLinks; and Constitution Hill
Contact: William Bird or Gemma Harries @ MMP Tel: 011 788 1278 or mmpinfo@mediamonitoring.org.za
DEBATE: “16 Days of Activism Campaign: A High Horse for Gender Activists, or a Valuable Campaign?”
Where: The Women’s Jail Lekgotla, Constitution Hill
When: Monday, 21 st of November 2005
Time: 17:30 for 18h00
Speakers include:
- Welcome: Amina Frense, MISA-SA/SANEF
- Opening remarks: Cheryl Gillwald, Deputy Minister Correctional Services
- Setting the scene: Colleen Lowe Morna, Executive Director, Gender Links; William Bird, Director, Media Monitoring Project
- Panelists include: Maureen Isaacson, Sunday Independent; Sheila Meintjes, WITS University; Nicole Fritz, SADC Centre for Litigation; Sisonke Msimang, Open Society Institute for Southern Africa
- Chaired by: John Perlman, SAFM
The 16 Days of Activism: No Violence Against Women and Children campaign is a campaign supported by the South African government, civil society, non-governmental organisations, and the media. The campaign is run parallel to the international 16 Days of Activism: No Violence Against Women, which is endorsed by the United Nations. Both campaigns run annually between the 25th of November (International Day of No Violence Against Women) and the 10th of December (International Human Rights Day). The 16 Days campaign promotes peace and encourages prevention of violence against women and children, widely acknowledged as the most vulnerable members of society and the most affected by crime. The campaign aims to address violence against women and children in all forms not only the extreme instances of physical or sexual violence, but also other less common forms of abuse, such as emotional, psychological, and economic abuse. Of course, women and child abuse are not restricted to 16 days, but occur throughout the year, which questions the value of the campaign, and why the media should support or even care about it. Join us, and key media stakeholders, to discuss and debate some of these controversial issues.
Key Campaign Events in South Africa in 2005 included:
The Opening Ceremony: The Campaign was launched on 25 November in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal. The theme for the launch was “Partnerships for Peace”. The purpose of the launch was to acknowledge the importance of strategic partnerships in the eradication of violence against women and children. The occasion was also used to thank partners for their support in the past and to consolidate the partnerships into the future. Each sectoral partner was offered a 10 minute speaking slot. The Programme began at about 11am and closed at approximately 13h00, followed by light refreshments. The President was approached to deliver the Keynote Address at the opening ceremony.
- The Closing Ceremony: The Closing Ceremony was held on the last day of the Campaign - the 10th of December. The Premier of the North West Province agreed to host the Closing Ceremony. The main part of the day’s programme began at 11am and drew to a close at 13h00 with refreshments following. The Deputy President was approached to deliver the Keynote Address at the closing ceremony. She was also asked to hand over a “Torch of Peace” to the Minister of Transport to mark the country’s transition from the 16 Days of Activism Campaign into the annual “Drive Alive” Campaign.
- The Torch of Peace: The “Torch of Peace” formed a link between the 16 Days of Activism Campaign and other major national campaigns that support the thematic programmes that underpin Government’s national outreach activities. The path of the “Torch of Peace” was as follows:
- handed by the Deputy President to the Minister of Transport marking the transition from the 16 Days of Activism Campaign into government’s “Arrive Alive Campaign;”
- handed by the Minister of Transport to the Minister of Education in mid January to mark the transition from the “Arrive Alive” Campaign to the “Safer Schools” Project (aligned with the New Year’s return of learners to school);
- handed by the Minister of Education to the Minister in the Presidency as the representative of the Office on the Rights of the Child, at the beginning of June – Youth Month;
- handed by the Head of the ORC to the OSW (the Minister in the Presidency to preside) at the beginning of Women’s Month in August;
- handed by the Minister in the Presidency at the beginning of November to the President, marking the advent of the build-up to the 16 Days of Activism...
- Cyber Dialogues: This project received widespread coverage and cross-sectoral support during Campaign 2004. The GCIS and Gender Links agreed to use government’s MPCCs to support rural participation in this real time chat-room format. The Johannesburg City Council agreed to provide a venue for the National hub and an expanded reach for the chat-room was envisaged for this year’s Campaign. Please click here for more information and a schedule of the CYBER DIALOGUES.
- Postcard Pledge Campaign: 2004’s Postcard Pledge Campaign provided the interactive element of the annual Campaign. Designs for this year’s postcard were approved and discussions were scheduled to finalise the logistics of this year’s Postcard Pledge Campaign with the South African Post Office (SAPO). Gathered postcards were again pasted to a Wall of Solidarity – the location of which had yet to be finalized. Progress on this Pledge Campaign was provided on an ongoing basis.
- The Good News White Ribbon Awards: The International Marketing Council (IMC) and Associated Magazines were collecting good-news stories of survivors of violence and the people that support them. They hoped to finalise a format in which ordinary citizens are recognised for their role in nation building and the eradication of woman and child abuse. 16 Good News White Ribbons were presented – one for each of the 16 days of the Campaign. A panel was used to select the 16 most inspiring stories of these heroes and heroines. The format was still in the draft stage and further details will be provided as the project develops.
- Liaison with Newspaper Groups: The Independent Newspaper Group: Preliminary discussions with the Independent Newspaper Groups yielded in-principle support for Campaign 2005 including the production on a Supplement profiling government and civil society initiatives aimed at the eradication of gender-based and child-directed abuse. Progress on the finer details of this partnership will be provided on an ongoing basis.
- National SMS Campaign: Government’s annual 16 Days of Activism Campaign serves as a vehicle to raise funds for NGOs and CBOs working with victims and survivors of violence. Preliminary discussions with MTN have indicated that a short-code number (for example, 31616) can be supported by all three service providers to raise funds for channelling to NGOs via the Foundation for Human Rights. Progress in respect of the SMS Campaign will be provided on an ongoing basis.
- Campaign Toolkit: Click HERE for a look at South Africa’s campaign toolkit. Also, check out the letter used to request support from sectoral partners for the 2005 campaign HERE. And check out http://womensnet.org.za/16Days/ for more information on the South African 16 Days campaign.
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SUDAN
United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA)
Contact: delargy@unfpa.org
As the coordinating agency among the UN partners for support for victims of sexual violence in Darfur, UNFPA has been working with NGO and community partners on protection, prevention and medical response for some time now. During the last four months, there have been a number of positive developments in terms of gaining government recognition of the problem and also in increasing prevention and care. In South Darfur, particularly, the governor has now recognized and admitted the problem and has established a joint commission to improve security for women and girls and to facilitate appropriate medical and psychosocial support for survivors. UNFPA has also been working with the African Union on provision of security through regular patrols for firewood collection and for IDP camp security, as well. In order to focus positive attention to this progress, UNFPA organized (with the UN mission and many other partners) a broad set of activities and events in Darfur and in Khartoum to raise awareness about the problems of violence against women - for women, their families and the whole society. In Nyala, they organized two days of activities, including a concert by some of Sudan's most famous musicians (across many ethnic groups) which was held in Kalma IDP camp, the biggest camp in Darfur. There was also a concert in the Nyala stadium, many educational and advocacy activities, seminars, and rallies against violence against women. There were two unique aspects of this event in Nyala. First, that it brings reknown Sudanese artists and musicians together in a show of national unity - which is important for peace-building in the new Sudan - and it does this through a focus on the damaging impact of violence against women. Second, it is the first time the local authorities have publicly dealt with this issue - and it involves a number of high government officials in the new government who will make public commitments to deal with the problem. There was significant regional media (newspapers and television from the Middle East, UN TV for CNN, etc). Click HERE for a complete schedule and follow the link below to access a newspaper article entitled “Sudan: Dealing with Gender Violence Through Music.” http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=50751&SelectRegion=East_Africa&SelectCountry=SUDAN.
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UGANDA
GBV Prevention Network
Contact: inquiries@preventgbvafrica.org
For the second year running, the GBV Prevention Network has created Action and Advocacy Kits for 20 Network Members. Building on the international theme, their regional theme for this year is “Men and Women Joining Hands to Prevent Violence and HIV/AIDS.” The Action and Advocacy Kit included:
- 200 full color posters calling men to get involved in the prevention of GBV and HIV/AIDS
- 3000 “Prevent Violence Against Women” purple ribbons
- 20 flyers about the purple ribbon campaign
- 200 stickers on the intersection of GBV and HIV/AIDS
- A newspaper article on the importance of men getting involved in GBV and HIV prevention
- “Community Dialogue Guide:” Guidelines for a community dialogue reaching men on the link between GBV and HIV/AIDS
- An evaluation form to assess the experience in collaborating with the network and materials
- A simple report form that will detail activities and experiences during the campaign
- A CD with a variety of relevant resources on male involvement on the prevention of violence against women and HIV/AIDS
Collaborating agencies this year are: Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK), Kenya; Coalition on Violence Against Women (COVAW), Kenya; Men for Gender Equality Now Network (project of FEMNET), Kenya; Kenya Female Advisory Organization (KEFEADO), Kenya; Dolphin Anti-Rape and AIDS Control Outreach, Kenya; Center for Domestic Violence Prevention (CEDOVIP), Uganda; Rakai Health Sciences Program, Uganda; Lira Rural Women’s Development and Child Protection Initiative, Uganda; International Rescue Committee (IRC), Uganda; Raising Voices, Uganda; Kivulini Women’s Rights Organization, Tanzania; Shinyanga Foundation Fund, Tanzania; Forum for Activists Against Torture (FACT), Rwanda; Southern Africa AIDS Information and Dissemination Service (SAfAIDS), Zimbabwe; Family Life Association of Swaziland (FLAS), Swaziland; Southern African Media and Gender Institute (SAMGI), South Africa; Siyanakekela Community Development, South Africa; Nisaa Women’s Institute for Development, South Africa; Family and Marriage Society (FAMSA), South Africa; Namibian Voices for Development, Namibia. Please see various country listings for each group’s individual activities.
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This section highlights general United Nations support of the 16 Days campaign, including statements made by Executive Directors of various UN agencies with regard to the campaign, as well as websites UN agencies have created to highlight the campaign.
International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, 25 November 2005
International Human Rights Day, 10 December 2005
Websites
United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)
Contact: leigh.pasqual@undp.org
UNIFEM observed the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence with a wide range of activities organized around the world by its regional and country offices, partner organizations and national committees. From public forums, seminars, and workshops to exhibitions, theatre performances and media campaigns, not a day went by from 25 November to 10 December without a reminder that violence against women is a human rights violation that must be stopped, and that everyone can play a part in doing so.
In Thailand, a public forum invited comments on the country's pending domestic violence bill, with ideas from the forum sent to national newspapers to stimulate further debate on the issue. In Cambodia, the White Ribbon campaign, a part of the 16 Days of Activism that specifically targets involving men as partners against violence, was launched by the Cambodian Men's Network, who went door-to-door to raise awareness and encourage public participation. A conference for government officials and civil society representatives on the problem of child marriages took place in Afghanistan, while in Abkhazia, the 16 Days was observed for the first time through a public awareness campaign that included seminars for students and round table sessions for the media and local authorities. A memorial was held in Nigeria, to remember all women who had lost their lives to violence and to recognize the courage of survivors. Attendees wore coloured t-shirts — beige for domestic violence, blue for incest and child abuse, red for rape and white for murdered victims — to signify the impact of particular forms of abuse on their lives. "No Safe Haven," a Project Alert compilation of media reports of violent attacks on women between December 2004 and November 2005, was launched at the event along with symbolic lighting of candles, reciting of poems and sharing of testimonies from survivors and families of victims of violence. Across Latin America and the Caribbean, a regional public campaign, which included UN agencies and international bodies, such as the Pan-American Health Organization, ISIS International, and the Centre for Women's Global Leadership (CWGL), called to action hundreds of organizations and thousands of activists to advocate against gender-based violence.
UNIFEM's national committees in various countries spearheaded publicity campaigns, working with local media to place articles in daily newspapers, run radio and TV spots and advocating with national authorities on effectively implementing existing policies and legislation on ending gender-based violence. In New Zealand, 50,000 white ribbons were distributed at breakfasts, street events and free concerts to symbolize speaking out against abuse of women and children, while in Iceland, activities organized by UNIFEM's national committee and 25 other civil society organizations included putting "band-aids" on all lower court houses in the country to call attention to inefficiencies within the justice system in dealing with cases of gender-based violence.
At an event at UNIFEM headquarters in New York, grantees from UNIFEM's Trust Fund to Eliminate Violence against Women told of their experiences working to combat violence in their communities. The occasion also saw the announcement of new Trust Fund grantees — 24 groups working in 30 countries received grants to further their work on ensuring that national policies and laws to end violence against women were being implemented, and to specifically address the deadly intersection of violence and the spread of HIV/AIDS. The complete list of 2005 Trust Fund grantees is available at: http://www.unifem.org/attachments/stories/TrustFund_Grantees_2005.pdf.
Click HERE for a detailed list of activities.
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