2006 International Calendar of Campaign Activities

AFRICA

CAMEROON | KENYA | NIGERIA | SENEGAL | SOUTH AFRICA | SUDAN |TANZANIA

CAMEROON

Peace Makers Society
Contact: Marianne Zanga, peacems96@yahoo.ca
The Peace Makers Society’s events range from panel discussions, radio debates, church services, and sport activities to women’s groups advocating for women’s rights. Film showings will also occur, e.g. the showing of "Search for a common ground." Other events include cultural activities and educational talks advocating for women’s rights and equality. A series of trainings will be held for 32 women group leaders on non-violence techniques, national legislation and CEDAW. There will be an excursion to Sagba to visit Mbororos women victims of violence. A march is also planned by women’s groups advocating for improvement of women’s rights. For a more extensive agenda on these events, please contact the Peace Makers Society.

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KENYA

Christian Peacemaker Team
Stories of Congolese women with the input of Judy Amunga, a Kenyan lady Journalist and Laywer, as well as civil activist, with the assistance of Unjin Lee, a young American lady who works as a grant adviser with World Vision and is doing her Phd in Peace Studies. Click here to read.

Ndama
Contact: jwamuyu@kiomm.org
Ndama is a Swahili word which means calf, therefore the project intends to rejuvenate and stimulate new ideologies, give hope and raise answers on the importance of women participation in solid-economic and political activities without favor or discrimination. The project will employ field tested action, research and feasible methodologies to ensure that the participation of larger feminine society is catered for. It will involve research, womens’ forum and a womens’ open day. All these activities are also intended to open the eyes of all relevant stakeholders to define and implement specific action projects geared towards controlling or preventing gender based violence within their own households and communities.

Suncity Youth HIV/AIDS Programme
Contact: Mercy Wambui, Tel: 254-020-214820/21833
The project will employ field tested action, research and feasible methodologies to ensure that the participation of larger feminine society is catered for. It will involve research, womens’ forum and a womens’ open day. All these activities are intended to open the eyes of all relevant stakeholders to define and implement specific action projects geared towards controlling or preventing gender based violence within their own households and communities. For more information, please click here.

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NIGERIA

Civil Resource Development and Documentation Centre (CIRDDOC)
Contact: Oby Nwankwo, cirddoc@aol.com
CIRDDOC Nigeria plans to hold a Tribunal on the Violations of the Reproductive Rights of Women on November 23, 2006 in Lagos, Nigeria as part of their activities on the 16 Days of Activism.

BAOBAB
Contact: http://www.baobabwomen.org/contact.htm
Activities include a talk around the 2007 elections on the theme Advance Human Rights - End Violence Against Women - Women Strategizing against Political Intimidation. In addition, BOABAB is planning a day to get involved with the men in their community including male members of staff, service providers, Lagos outreach members, friends, etc., through campaigning, for women’s human rights defenders. Also as part of the organization's 16 days activities is a sticker campaign.

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SENEGAL

United Nations Development Programme
The UN Population Fund is organizing a film festival in Dakar on gender-based violence.  Filmmakers from around the continent of Africa have been invited to submit films and documentaries in English or French for a film festival devoted to ending endemic violence against women in Africa. Themes include Gender-based violence (GBV) in conflict and post-conflict countries (there are more deadly conflicts raging in Africa at any one time than any other Continent), domestic violence, female genital cutting/mutilation (FGC/FGM) and vulnerability due to extreme poverty, which can force women into sex work.  For more information please see flyer.

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SOUTH AFRICA

Gender and Media Southern Africa Network (GEMSA)
Contact: ceo@gemsa.org.za
In addition to coordinating activities around the 16 Days Campaign in 13 Southern African countries, GEMSA will also conduct several cyber-dialogues to generate participation and awareness on this topic. Themes for the cyber-dialogues include ­ Nov 28: Local Government Responses to Gender Violence; Nov 30: Local Government and Gender Violence (South Africa); Dec 1: HIV and AIDS and Gender and the Media Dec 6: The role of men and boys; Dec 7: Gender Violence in Schools; Dec 8: Survivors Speak out in Mauritius (in Creole and French). All dialogues will be held between 1 pm and 2 pm South Africa time., call +27 11 6222877, or visit the website.

Gender Links
Contact: Loveness Jambaya, justice@genderlinks.org.za; Kubi Rama, ceo@gemsa.org.za, www.genderlinks.org.za or www.gemsa.org.za
Gender Links is hosting a series of events including a media debate earlier on in the campaign titled “Media: part of the problem or the solution.” Other events include a Take Back the Night campaign, Cyber Dialogues, and a regional girl-child summit in December. There will also be a submission of first hand accounts of surviving gender violence throughout this period.

Mail & Guardian
Contact: Llisma Willemse, ilizmaw@mg.co.za
On December 1, the Mail & Guardian will publish a special feature on the 16 Days of Activism. The supplement will include a range of articles by women who are experts in various fields and will document how changes in these fields affect the combating of violence against women and children. Fields include law and human rights, arts and culture, etc. Please see attached link with flyer.

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SUDAN

Human Rights First, Darfur
Contact: Daniel Jasnow, JasnowD@humanrightsfirst.org
On December 10th 2006 – Human Rights Day – groups around the world will be highlighting the issue of rape in Darfur. Rape and sexual assault has become commonplace in the conflict with this form of violence increasingly being used as a weapon of terror. According to the UN, in one refugee camp alone (Kalma Camp) in recent months the levels of sexual assault increased from around ten a month to ten assaults per day. Collecting firewood has become a question of life and death for Darfuris: If men go to find firewood and are caught they are killed; if women are caught they are raped. Families are having to make the impossible choice day after day of who will have to take on this dangerous task.
On 10th December, thousands of women will demonstrate outside Sudanese embassies around the world, showing their solidarity with the women of Darfur. Where possible they will gather around fires - symbolizing the firewood problem that makes so many women victims of rape in Darfur. Where possible, people participating in the events will wear black to symbolize mourning.  It is up to local groups to determine what other images or symbols they may wish to use, and what other form these events might take such as candlit vigils, demonstrations, etc.

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TANZANIA

WilDAF
Contact: wildaf_tanzania@yahoo.com
WiLDAF Tanzania will be planning a press conference on November 24th 2006 to create public awareness through the media on The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence. On November 27th, there will be a rally where network members and other human rights NGOs will demonstrate the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence by marching from WiLDAF office to the Diamond Jubilee Hall where by the guest of honour, throughout that day as well paper presentations on “ACCESS TO JUSTICE AND THE RULE OF LAW”, along with this legal aid services will be held. Between November 29th to December 8th  the legal aid providers will visit and provide legal aid to vulnerable groups especially to women in areas outside Dar  es Salaam city.  The mobile Legal aid clinic will be in all three districts of Dar es salaam which are Ilala, Temeke and Kinondoni.  The focus is to utilize the 16 Days to inform women on how they can access legal aid. 

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