CAMPAIGN REPORT

16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

This report highlights the activities and outcomes of the 2011 edition of the 16 days of Activism campaign on prevention of violence against women which was implemented with support from the GBV Prevention Network

APPRECIATION: To our main partners in this campaign, the GBV Prevention Network, we thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for your partnership and your friendship: we could only accomplish our common purpose with your invaluable partnership and friendship. You have been a crucial partner in our work to ignite change through strengthening and amplifying the power of womens voices in Uganda. We are proud to be able to be a small part of this worthwhile cause and we hope that every year, with your ongoing support, the voice for freedom, and respect for womens rights will keep resonating all around us. Our partners Women of Uganda Network, African Youth development Link, Uganda Youth Network, Plan International, Fight Against AIDS Society, Visionary Lady International, Reach a Hand Uganda, Young Rich & Famous, ACET, World Association of Girl Guides, Center for Women in Leadership, Open Space Center, among others; we thank you so very much for your partnership and support. Together, we can change the way the world works, not only for women and girls, but for everyone. INTRODUCTION The 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence is an international campaign originating from the first Womens Global Leadership Institute sponsored by the Center for Womens Global Leadership (CWGL) at Rutgers University in 1991. The dates November 25, International Day against Violence against Women, and December 10, International Human Rights Day, were strategically chosen in order to symbolically link violence against women and human rights and to emphasize that such violence is a human rights violation. In November 2011, Allied Youth Initiative Uganda (AYI Uganda) was one of the GBV Prevention Network member organisations selected to receive the Networks 16 Days Action and Advocacy Kit for 2011. The kit contained a wide range of awareness materials under the theme: Everyone, Everyday, Every way; Prevent Violence against Women. The materials included posters highlighting how everyone can prevent violence against women in their own way; purple ribbons with the message Prevent Violence against Women; an introductory letter to help activists garner support within their organisations; quick chat guides for community engagement and awareness; flyers announcing the essay contest on Facebook; among others. With the help of these materials and other support from other partner organisations, AYI Uganda undertook to plan and implement several activities during the 16 Days of Activism under the regional theme Everyone, Everyday, Every way; Prevent Violence against Women. One ought to note that some of the activities herein were informed by our organizational subtheme: Raising global awareness and encouraging local activism! 1. THE RUN AGAINST POVERTY & VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN INITIATIVE AYI Uganda, in close partnership with the Global Call for Action against Poverty (GCAP Uganda Chapter) undertook to participate in the 2011 edition of the MTN Kampala Marathon on 27th November 2011. Organized under the theme "What is your reason to run?" the marathon offered a perfect platform for us to rally multitudes of Ugandans and East Africans from all walks of life who participated

in the event to join our cause as we chose to Run Against Poverty and Violence against Women as our reason to run. The event attracted over 20,000 participants from all walks of life across the East African region and thus was a perfect opportunity for the campaign to raise awareness around the issue of violence against women in society and encourage everyone to play a pro-active role in the 16 Days of Activism. Through directly engaging some of the local musicians who performed at the event such as Jackie Chandiru, Eddie Kenzo and Coco Finger to pass on targeted messages prevention of violence against women, we were able to draw the interest of participants to the threat posed by violence against women and how each one of us can advocate for the cause of preventing the social vice either as an individual or an organizational using any ordinary but precise actions one may choose. It was such a simple action but one with a far reaching impact of touching thousands of peoples lives while giving hope to the millions of women suffering under the yoke of violence. The moral of this simple action is best brought out by US anthropologist Margaret Mead: Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. Join us this Sunday as we "Run Against Gender-based Violence" in commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism Against GBV @ the MTN Kampala Marathon. We intend to use the event to draw the attention of the multitudes to the fact that GBV is real and still at large in our society. We ought to fight it while we still can. See ya there. 2. RADIO TALK SHOW ON 98.6 STEP FM AYI Uganda held a two-hour talk show (12.00 2.00 pm) on 99.8 Step FM (a local privately owned radio station that is hugely popular with the youth) on December 1st 2011 on the topic: "Every youth should prevent Violence against Women every day in their own way." The radio has a wider coverage and listenership in the Eastern regional districts of Mbale, Pallisa, Tororo, Kapchorwa, Bukwo, Abim, Amuria, Soroti, Kumi, Bukedea, Ngora, Namutumba, Iganga, Bugiri, Butaleja, Busia, among others. It ought to be noted that these districts are some of the areas widely documented to have the biggest and severest instances of violence against women and domestic violence. The show was designed to create awareness amongst the youth about violence against women in our communities, its prevalence rate and impact on community development if left unchecked as well as deliberating on the possible workable solutions to the same. Worth noting is the fact that young men were asked to make personal commitments to create a safer world for young women as well as women in general. Young male listeners were encouraged to call-in to the show to make a verbal pledge dedicated to a special lady in their life - their mother, wife, sister, girlfriend, friend, colleague, daughter, boss or teacher - whomever it is that moves them to rid the world

of abuse. This move was informed by the thinking that working with men and boys to improve their attitudes and practices towards girls and women is an important place to start. The show was part of the Kul Youth programme sponsored by ACET (Mbale Regional Office) while the content to guide the discussion was derived from the GBV Prevention Network (especially SASA! materials). 3. TRANSLATION OF AWARENESS MATERIALS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN Informed by the sub theme Raising global awareness and encouraging local activism, AYI Uganda sought to contribute to the international awareness drive without losing the zeal for local activism against violence against women by voluntarily translating some of the campaign materials for the international campaign that was spear headed by the Center for Womens Global Leadership (CWGL). The materials were designed for use as an organizing strategy by individuals and groups around the world to call for the elimination of all forms of violence against women by: raising awareness about gender-based violence as a human rights issue at the local, national, regional and international levels strengthening local work around violence against women establishing a clear link between local and international work to end violence against women providing a forum in which organizers can develop and share new and effective strategies demonstrating the solidarity of women around the world organizing against violence against women creating tools to pressure governments to implement promises made to eliminate violence against women We translated two documents, i.e. the campaign theme announcement as well as informational sheet one, from English to Kiswahili and both are now available for download on the CWGL website at:
http://16dayscwgl.rutgers.edu/2011-campaign/2011-take-action-kit.

4. ENGAGEMENT WITH LEADERS AT LOCAL LEVEL IN ABIM AND PADER The District Vice Chairperson, Pader was quoted saying, I am excited to add my voice to the cause for a society devoid of violence against women, and the cause for collective action where Everyone prevents violence against women Everyday, Every way." 5. ESSAY AND DRAMA COMPETITIONS IN PADER AND ABIM Cognizant of the fact that young people have a lot to say when it comes to gender and womens rights, AYI Uganda collaborated with other like-minded civil society organisations to use the media of arts and culture through music, dance, drama, essay writing and poetry to create change and promote social justice by initiating public dialogue around women's issues and rights in Pader and Abim districts of Acholi and Karamoja sub regions.

This contest was designed in an effort to harness the energy, imagination and initiative of the Ugandan youth in promoting a culture of zero tolerance to violence against women for sustainable development through simple individual and collective action(s). It also aimed at inspiring the Ugandan society to learn from the young minds and to think about how each of us can make a difference in womens lives in the world. The theme of the essay contest was Every one, Every day, Everywhere: Prevent Violence against Women your way and it attracted a diversity of participants aged between 14-25 who wrote original unpublished essays of at least 800 words or less in English, typed or printed. Some of the drama groups that participated included Akonye Kena and Pader GBV from Pader district as well as Abim Town council and Ayeyo Kony from Abim district. The best group turned out to be Akonye Kena from Pader which scored total of 291 points followed by Ayeyo Kony from Abim with 271 points and Abim Town council and Pader GBV tied with 246 points. The best play Wright was Owiny Daniel of Abim Town Council Youth Group, The best male actor was Okidi Billy of Ayeyo Kony and the best actress was Ojok Monica Sharon of Akonye Kena Group while the most promising Talent as selected by the participants was Nakiwala Evelyn from Pader GBV group. Altogether, 181 participants including students, teachers, community facilitators, NGOs and local authorities participated in the campaign, as well as distributing materials and resources including purple ribbons, leaflets, and posters. Other activities included role-playing stories, a public parade and performance of songs about nonviolence. 6. YOUTH DEBATE ON PROMOTING GENDER EQUALITY THROUGH ENHANCED MEN AND BOYS INVOLVEMENT In conjunction with Uganda Youth Network and Plan International, AYI - Uganda co-organized and participated in a youth debate intended to provide a platform for a diversity of young people to debate the role of Ugandas youth towards positive gender relations and propose areas of policy to address violence against women in Uganda. The debate held on September 27, 2011 in Hotel Africana, was part of the activities for the launch of the5th edition of Because I am a Girl Report 2011, which assesses the state of the worlds girls. The debate begun with opening remarks from the co-organizers to provoke the audience for a lively discussion focused on the theme of the day. The morning had a panel structure moderated and involving four speakers. The midmorning session stretching up lunch was a value debate in which two young people debated against each other on the value of a patriarchal vs non-patriarchal society. The debate was streamed live

on Internet as a means of popularizing the use of social media as well as provided youth online to interact and contribute to the proceedings of the discussions. The online link was www.ustream.tv/channel/youth-debates. Some of the comments, suggestions and recommendations from the debate include the following: The women empowerment debates and initiatives are failing because its centered on women in development and thereby leaves out the men who in essence should partner and work together. Gender campaigners should work with the media to deconstruct and desist from entrenching and sustaining gender inequality grounded on patriarchy particularly the concept of depicting women as commercial objects. Campaigners should tap and use social media to educate boys and young men about gender equality. Specific trainings on gender and power relations specifically for men, conduct debates on gender and power relations in schools and other education institutions Single schools particularly for boys should be banned because its through such institutions that masculinity is much more entrenched, reproduced and sustained. Single schools also do not provide spaces for mutual interaction of both sexes and deeper understanding of the concept of having the same abilities and capacities irrespective of the sexes. Any meaningful education should start with expecting mothers on how to bring up/socialize their children on equal grounds; have gender taught in elementary schools and encourage all sexes that they have the same potentials and abilities. As we call for gender equality, let us instill a sense of organizational citizenship behaviors in both men and women so that they see the need to take up responsibilities that match their abilities, this way we shall see the men involved in house work and other duties and women getting involved in house costs and payments. Introduce a magazine that can be produced periodically to educate the people out there on gender equality especially those that cannot be reached through mainstream activities like dialogues and workshops To deconstruct the social patriarchal beliefs; girls and boys should be encouraged to take up different roles in society thereby giving them equal spaces to demonstrate the abilities and learn to appreciate each other. Involve the cultural and religious institutions in gender equality campaigns because its such places that many of the patriarchal ideologies are enhanced and sustained. There are a lot of inequalities in cultural and religious institutions particularly when it comes to women taking up certain leadership and management positions. Stretch the gender equality campaigns to reach out to every person and to every area; greatly involving boys and young men in schools, colleges, universities and communities. Men at the echelon of decision making should be brought on to the bandwagon of women emancipation. There is need to comprehensively review the gender equality call and ascertain the applicability and indeed sustainability of such a society where all men and women are equal; Is not to have gender tolerance instead of equality?

Campaigns should focus on attitude change rather than legislation; teach men/boys the beauty of respect and unique attributes of women. Initiate sensitization and inspirational programmes in rural areas and schools to break the attitudes towards women and the attitudes within women about their inability to take up certain tasks. Empower women through various activities such as camps and encourage them to get out of their shells and appreciate themselves before they can be appreciated or treated differently by men. It starts with them. Ensure equal opportunities for men and women then equality will follow Institutions should be gender sensitive and continuous capacity building to promote equality of genders There is need to change some titles such as masters degree in education institutions because literally master applies to gentlemen while as mistress to ladies.

All in all, the debate highlighted the fact that boys and young men have a long way in understanding how the patriarchal ideology entrenches masculinity and violence against women as well as the effects of the muscular world on gender parity. For us, the debate was an entry point and a first of its kind to open up the involvement of boys and men in issues of preventing violence against women and thus promoting gender equality. 7. SOCIAL MEDIA FOR HIV PREVENTION On December 1st 2011, AYI Uganda participated in organized by the United States Mission in Uganda on how social media can be harnessed by all development players to address the spread of HIV/AIDS. This is because as an organization, we are keenly cognizant of the link between violence against women and the spread of HIV/AIDS. The discussion took place Technology and social media have had profound effects in all aspects of our lives: from government and education to business and society. They enable us to rally around common causes and come together to collaborate in new and different ways: they are tools for co-creation. Social media and new technologies are providing platforms for ordinary citizens to become journalists, educators, activists, funders, entrepreneurs and innovators themselves. Nowhere has this impact been more clearly felt than in the Middle East and North Africa, especially Tunisia and Egypt, where mobile phones, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and online communities such as Al Jazeera Talk have paved a path for protest and revolution. If these tools and platforms can enable a revolution, as in Egypt, can they help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS? Can social media and other technologies be used to strengthen civil society? Can we create the global and regional platforms and programs that will enable us to share knowledge and learn from one another? These are just some of the questions that were asked at the Information Resource Centre of the US Embassy in Kampala on December 1st 2011, during a high level discussion which brought together via

video conferencing - civil society actors, academics, NGOs, students, media activists, policy-makers and social innovators in Uganda and the US as part of the social media series to commemorate World AIDS Day 2011. Through video conferencing, participants came face to face, through high definition video and sound, allowing them to talk and meet in real time despite being located on different sides of the world, to share experiences, learn from each other and work together to make the world a better, safer and HIVfree place.

ANNEX: WHATS YOUR WAY ESSAY COMPETITION SUBMISSION 10TH DECEMBER, 2011 I participated in the MTN Kampala Marathon 2011 on 27th November 2011 organized under the theme "What is your reason to run?" where we chose the theme/reason was Run Against GBV to raise awareness around the issue of GBV and particularly violence against women in society and encourage everyone to play a pro-active role in the 16 Days of Activism. The marathon was a unique opportunity to draw the interest of over 20,000 participants to the threat posed by violence against women and how each one of us can advocate for the cause of preventing the social vice either as an individual or an organizational using any ordinary but precise actions one may choose. It was such a simple action taken by us at Allied Youth Initiative Uganda but one with a far reaching impact of touching thousands of peoples lives while giving hope to the millions of women suffering under the yoke of violence. The moral of this simple action is best brought out by US anthropologist Margaret Mead: Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. Everyone, Every day, Every way: Prevent Violence against Women.

Submitted by: Wanzala E. Martin

ABOUT US ALLIED YOUTH INITIATIVE UGANDA: AYI - Uganda is a not-for-profit community development organization that promotes youth innovation to drive positive change for human rights and sustainable development. Established in February 2009 with headquarters in Mbale (Eastern Uganda), we engage youth in creating solutions to the challenges they face by supporting them to effectively shape their world through media, arts (infotainment and edutainment) and entrepreneurial opportunities. This is due the fact that we acknowledge that across the world young people are making important contributions as world citizens, productive workers, entrepreneurs, consumers and agents of change. We are, therefore, dedicated to encouraging and stimulating an entrepreneurial spirit by unlocking the talents, imagination and creativity of youth as drivers of change, addressing important economic, environmental and social issues within our communities. We work with human rights advocates, legislators, teachers, police, humanitarians and grass root youth groups to encourage the youth to learn, demand, defend and champion the young peoples cause. In general terms, AYI Uganda addresses young peoples issues through a human rights-based approach. GBV PREVENTION NETWORK: The GBV Prevention Network is a dynamic group of activists and practitioners committed to preventing gender- based violence in the Horn, East and Southern Africa. We are over 220 members strong coming from 24 different countries all of us committed to and working toward a world free of gender-based violence. We are: entire organizations, individuals, academics, social justice activists, development workers, feminists, donors, etc. we come from small, rural, community-based organizations, national organizations, international organizations, bi-laterals, foundations, government institutions, universities and the UN we are both women and men, survivors of violence, witnesses to violence The GBV Prevention Network is a vibrant space for innovation, expertise, experience sharing and exchange on GBV prevention.