Gender and Gender-based Violence
Every year, activists around the world recognise 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence from 24 November to 10 December. The theme for 2007 is "Demanding Implementation, Challenging Obstacles: End Violence Against Women". This edition of The Soul Beat looks at gender and gender-based violence and includes programme descriptions, strategic thinking documents and materials that reflect how Africa is using communication to address these issues.
If you would like your organisation's communication work or research and resource documents to be featured on the Soul Beat Africa website and in The Soul Beat newsletters, please contact the Editor - Anja Venth aventh@comminit.com
Click here to subscribe to The Soul Beat.html or email soulbeat@comminit.com
===
1. Information Dissemination Campaign on Domestic Violence Campaign - Zimbabwe
Launched in 2007 by the International Video Fair Trust (IVFT), this campaign uses mobile cinema, community dialogue and printed information materials to highlight the problem of violence against women and to introduce the newly passed national Domestic Violence Act. Funded by Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) Zimbabwe, the campaign aims to reach Zimbabweans with information on the new Act, and demonstrate the link between HIV/AIDS and domestic violence.
Pauline Chirombo zimivf@zol.co.zw
This radio drama, implemented by Story Workshop Educational Trust with support from Cordaid of the Netherlands, hopes to help combat gender-based violence in Malawi through entertainment-education. The radio programme is based on real-life stories of Malawians and is followed by panel discussions on issues of prevention. The series aims to address the root causes of gender-based violence by encouraging people to break the silence and to enhance open communication on all levels of gender relations in the public arena, as well as in the family and among couples and friends.
Contact info@storyworkshop.org
3. Center for Domestic Violence Prevention (CEDOVIP) - Uganda
The Center is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that works with the community in Kawempe, Uganda to address domestic violence by stimulating changes in attitudes and behaviours that perpetuate violence against women. CEDOVIP uses a variety of communication tools and approaches to build the capacity of community activists and community structures in the sectors of education, health, and law enforcement. The project also involves engaging the media, encouraging them to use their reporting and programming to promote practical actions to prevent domestic violence in the country.
Contact Betty Akullo cedovip@raisingvoices.org
Established in 1996, Women Wake Up (WOWAP) is a voluntary, non-governmental organisation (NGO) which is fighting against female genital mutilation (FGM) in Tanzania. The organisation trains community based leaders or change agents who encourage dialogue within communities and mobilise support from religious leaders, teachers, ward and village government officials to fight for the elimination of female genital mutilation (FGM). The project relies on social mobilisation, grassroots activism with the help of trained change agents and an advocacy committee in each village.
Contact contact@wowap.org
5. One Man Can Campaign - South Africa
This campaign, initiated by Sonke Gender Justice (an organisation working to prevent gender violence in Southern Africa) and working in partnership with the South African government and various national and international organisations, aims to support men to promote gender equality, end domestic and sexual violence, and reduce the spread and impact of HIV/AIDS. The campaign aims to support men by providing action sheets and materials that will help men take action in their lives and in their communities to promote healthy relationships based on a commitment to gender equality. The campaign is aimed at sports coaches, fathers, interfaith leaders, teachers and youth.
Contact Bafana Khumalo bafana@genderjustice.org.za
6. Ma Vie, Ma Décision - Ivory Coast
Launched in August 2007, Ma Vie, Ma Décision is a youth-driven health promotion campaign. The campaign aims to incorporate young Ivorian's language and input into TV spots, radio programmes and a photo novella to address issues around gender norms, HIV risk, condom use and sexual negotiation skills. The Ma Vie, Ma Decision! Campaign (French for “My Life, My Decision”) was developed by youth in collaboration with government officials and local non-governmental organisations (NGOs). It is being implemented in five Côte d'Ivoire regions with the aim of encouraging youth, especially young women, to make positive decisions around safe sex.
Contact Amelie Sow asow@jhuccp.org OR Regina Traore Serie rtserie@yahoo.fr
===
Gender-based violence cyber dialogue
Gender Links, a non-governmental organisation based in South Africa that aims to promote gender equality in and through the media, is hosting a series of cyber dialogues for 16 Days of Activism. Participants are invited to join this moderated online chat to discuss the following themes related to ending gender-based violence (GBV):
November 28 - Human Trafficking
November 29 - Role of local government
November 30 - HIV and AIDS & GBV
December 6 - Gender violence in schools
December 10 - International Human Rights Day
All chats take place between 13:00 - 14:00 UTC/GMT +2 hours.
To join, visit the Cyber Dialogues website:
===
7. Through Our Eyes: Participatory Video in West Africa
Published in Forced Migration Review (FMR), this 2-page article explores the use of locally made, participatory video designed to raise awareness of, and to help prevent, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). Undertaken as part of an outreach project launched in 2005 by the American Refugee Committee (ARC) in collaboration with Communication for Change (C4C), this participatory media initiative was piloted in Guinea and Liberia in order to share compelling stories and vital information through video. ARC was motivated by the challenge to raise awareness of the health and psychosocial impacts of conflict-related sexual violence among the 70,000 refugees and 314,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) who have returned since the end of Liberia's 14-year-long civil war.
8. A Survey of Rural Communities’ Attitudes on the Use of the Short Messaging Service
This is a survey conducted on using mobile phones for reporting human rights violations in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. The survey was done as part of the UmNyango Project, that uses SMS and pod-casting technology to promote and protect human rights, especially women's rights in rural communities in KwaZulu Natal. The survey found that there is an 80% IsiZulu literacy level. 83% of respondents owned mobile phones and 80% are able to send and retrieve basic text messages. The network coverage is also healthy and reliable in the target communities. 84% used the pre-paid method of accessing airtime. 76% used their mobile phones to make voice calls to follow-up on social-welfare, water and sanitation, and electricity applications, as well as to enquire about income generating opportunities.
9. WHO Multi-country Study on Women's Health and Domestic Violence against Women
The report is based on interviews with 24 000 women and covers 15 sites and 10 countries: Bangladesh, Brazil, Ethiopia, Japan, Peru, Namibia, Samoa, Serbia and Montenegro, Thailand and Tanzania. Report findings document the prevalence of intimate partner violence and its association with women's physical, mental, sexual and reproductive health. Data is included on non-partner violence, sexual abuse during childhood and forced first sexual experience. Information is also provided on women’s responses: Whom do women turn to and whom do they tell about the violence in their lives? Do they leave or fight back? Which services do they use and what response do they get?
10. Gender and Peace Building in Africa
This reader includes scholarly articles on issues of gender and peacebuilding in Africa. Its purpose is to provide a platform for debating current issues of gender in conflict situations, their destabilising consequences on the economic development of Africa, and the efforts being made to build bridges of peace with a gender-sensitive lens. Gender and Peace Building in Africa is a product of two Faculty and Staff Development Seminars in Zambia involving the University for Peace (UPEACE) Department for Gender and Peace Studies. Participants in these seminars were motivated by observations of the differential impact that conflict often has on women and girls, including contracting and living with HIV/AIDS - impacts which several of the contributors to this reader explore.
===
The African Child Policy Forum is an independent pan-African policy and advocacy centre on child rights. They are currently undertaking an assessment of child participatory media projects in Africa. The aim of this assessment is to prepare for a programme that will promote participation and networking among the various stakeholders in child media. They are looking for participants for this assessment, organisations working in Africa with child participatory media projects - radio, journals, television, film, internet, etc.
Please contact Anna G. Son Berg berg@africanchildforum.org
===
11. "I" Stories
As part of 16 Days of Activism, each year Gender Links and partners work with survivors of gender violence and reformed perpetrators to write their own personal stories, with the aim of bringing these voices to the public to raise awareness. Each “I” Story shares the personal experience of someone who has, in some way, been touched by gender-based violence which can take many forms - physical, sexual, emotional and economic. According to the organisers, first hand accounts are one of the most compelling ways of bringing home the reality of gender violence, its consequences, public and private responses.
12. The Other Half of Gender: Men's Issues in Development
by Maria C. Correia and Ian Bannon (eds.)
This book is an attempt to bring the gender and development debate full circle, "from a much-needed focus on empowering women to a more comprehensive gender framework that considers gender as a system that affects both women and men." The chapters in the book explore definitions of masculinity and male identities in a variety of social contexts, drawing from experiences in Latin America, the Caribbean and sub-Saharan Africa.
This training manual offers instructions on how to run Stepping Stones workshops which aim to enable individuals, their peers and their communities to change their behaviour - individually and together – in relation to HIV/AIDS, gender and relationships. It is accompanied by a workshop video of 15 five-minute clips, although, according to the publishers, the manual can be used without the video. The package includes closely-guided instructions on how to run approximately 60 hours of workshop sessions designed to enable women and men of all ages to explore their social, sexual and psychological needs, to analyse the communication blocks they face, and to practice different ways of behaving in their relationships.
===
To view gender related previous issues of The Soul Beat newsletter see:
The Soul Beat 89 - Protecting Africa's Children
The Soul Beat 51 - MDG 3: Gender Equality & Empowerment of Women
The Soul Beat 20 - Women & HIV/AIDS
Click here to view archived editions of The Soul Beat Newsletter.
===
Subscribe to The Soul Beat Extra - your e-journal focused in each alternate month on Community Radio or Edutainment. If you would like to receive the Soul Beat Extra on Community Radio or Edutainment please contact soulbeat@comminit.com
We would love to hear from you: Please send us your comments by going to or email Anja Venth aventh@comminit.com
Click here for more comments on the Soul Beat Africa website.
===
The Soul Beat seeks to cover the full range of communication for development activities. Inclusion of an item does not imply endorsement or support by The Partners.
If you have not received the most recent edition of The Soul Beat and you are definitely subscribed, it may be that your mailbox is protected by spam filters. Please add soulbeat@comminit.com to your email address book, spam software whitelist, or mail system whitelist.
Please send material for The Soul Beat to the Editor - Anja Venth aventh@comminit.com Click here to subscribe, see
To unsubscribe, reply to this message with "unsubscribe" as the subject.
- Log in to post comments