CONCEPT SUMMARY TEN (10):
Enhancing Youth Participation in 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence:
25 November – 10 December 2009

 

PROJECT SUMMARY AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES

Proposed Implementing Partners:

1. Child Rights Information and Documentation Centre (CRIDOC)
2. National Youth Council of Malawi (NYCOM)
3. Copyrights Society of Malawi (COSOMA)

Specific Objectives and Expected Results

i. To enhance youth and children’s awareness about all forms of violence against women and the girl-child.

ii. To encourage youth participation in the movements that work to ensure better protection for survivors of violence and call for the elimination of all forms of violence against women and the girl-child.

iii. To fully utilise (and publicise) the skills of the youth in various artistic fields as a strategy for promoting awareness on gender-based violence (GBV) in communities

Project Description

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence is an International Campaign originating from the Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991. Participants chose the dates, November 25, International Day against Violence against Women; and December 10, the International Human Rights Day, to emphasize that such violence is a violation of human rights. This 16-Day period also highlights other significant dates including December 1, which is World AIDS Day, and December 6, which marks the Anniversary of the Montreal Massacre.

The 16 Days Campaign has been used 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 efforts to end GBV.

 Providing forums where organisers can develop/share new, effective strategies.

 Creating tolls to pressure governments to implement promises made to eliminate violence against women.

This concept outlines implementation of activities during “16 Days Campaign” for 2009 that encourage youth/children's participation in a movement that works to ensure better protection for survivors of violence and calls for the elimination of all forms of violence against women and the girl child.

A proposed steering committee constituting the three main partners – namely Child Rights Information and Documentation Centre (CRIDOC), National Youth Council of Malawi (NYCOM), and Copyright Society of Malawi (COSOMA) – will manage the programme based on its internally agreed guidelines and/or terms of reference. Each partner will, however, assume a lead role in the implementation of specific proposed activities.

Project Rationale

Yet the recent trends show that the children and youth have not been actively involved in both the planning and implementation processes of various programmes and activities aimed to combat GBV, including the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence. For instance, in 2007 the Child Rights Information and Documentation Centre (CRIDOC) conducted a snap survey in seven schools within Lilongwe whose findings, among other things, showed that most children – including their teachers too – had never participated in any activity marking the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence. Out of the 35 children interviewed, only seven had ever heard of the 16 Days of Activism against GBV and the rest had not. Only two had actually participated in the activities marking the events, besides just hearing of the event. The majority of the children, however, felt it was important that school children and youth should also actively participate in the activities marking the 16 Days against GBV because they said they were also equally affected by violence; they would talk more about gender-related problems they face in society; they would know where they could report violations if they became victims; among other numerous reasons cited.

Thus it is on this basis that CRIDOC is teaming up with two other organizations to enhance participation of children and youth in this year’s 16 Days against GBV, starting from 25 November 2008. Proposed activities will include:

(a) Two-day youth workshop on GBV – lead organizers: CRIDOC
(b) Youth Open Day (various activities) – lead organizers: NYCOM
(c) Arts Festival – lead organizers: COSOMA

To comment on the concept with a subject line "Your Concept 10," please click here» To request for a full proposal, or querry for more information, please contact the CRIDOC Secretariat through our e-mail Here»

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