Center for Domestic Violence Prevention marks
16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence, November 25 - December 10, 2003

The Center for Domestic Violence Prevention (CEDOVIP) is a registered non governmental organization that is working with the grassroots community in Kawempe to address the issue of domestic violence by influencing change in attitude and behaviors that perpetuate violence against women.

The Center works in Kawempe Division with a whole range of community members such as Police. Health care providers, teachers, local councils, youth, children, women and men in the community.

The Center is planning a campaign that will involve NGOs, key agencies, community members, leaders, etc to mount an intense awareness campaign during 16 Days of Activism. A number of activities such as the ribbon Campaign match and rally, media campaign, video shows, dramas, seminars, competitions in the schools, newspaper columns, talk shows in the health centers, exhibitions in the police stations are being organized as per the activity grid below.

Since 1981, November, 25th has been marked by activists around the world as a day to raise awareness about violence against women.

Background

In 1999, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution that officially designates the 25th November, as the Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

In June, 1991, the Center for Women Global Leadership (CWGL) called for global campaign of 16 Days of Activism against Gender based Violence. The campaign aimed to highlight the connections between women, violence, and human rights from the 25th November to 10th December 1991. The time period encompasses four significant dates 25th November, the International Day Against Violence Against Women; 1st December, World AIDS day; 6th December, the anniversary of the Montreal Massacre, when 14 women engineering students were killed; and 10th December; Human Rights Days.

Coordinated by the CWGL, the annual campaign is observed globally by activists at the local, national, regional and international levels. Activities include radio, television and video programming, press conferences, film screening, workshops, seminars, panels and other meetings, demonstrations, protests, marches, poster, photos, exhibitions, public education campaigns, concerts, plays, and other theatre performances, street dramas, stickers, information kits and other publications.

Over the years, the annual campaign has grown and now includes participation of more than 1000 organizations in over 100 counties. The growth of the campaign exceeded initial expectations- not just in the numbers of those participating but also in spirit. The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence has become an annual event in many towns and regions.

Each year the Global Center composes a theme in consultation with women's human rights advocates' world wide and then circulates an announcement for the campaign as widely as possible. This year's theme is Violence Against Women Violates Human Rights: Maintaining the Momentum Ten Years After Vienna (1993-2003).

In Kampala, the Center for Domestic Violence Prevention has since 2000 spearheaded the national campaign. A wide variety of activities will be taking place each day. Please do contact us and get involved!
Contact:
Betty Akullo, Coordinator
Tel/Fax: 041-531249
Email: centerdvprevention@yahoo.com

Activity grid for the 16 Days of Activism

Activity	Brief description	Venue	Date
1) March/rally	March/rally to begin the campaign and commemorate International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. A band, a variety of CBO members and high profile invited guests will accompany it.	The march will be held in Kawempe division	25/11/03
2) Seminars	A meeting of police TOTs to discuss how they have handled issues of domestic violence and the impact and set backs, they will also discuss new approaches for handling cases of domestic violence and ways of prevention from their past experiences.	TickHotel Kawempe	5th November 2003
3) Ribbon Campaign	A solidarity campaign similar to the red ribbon campaign of World AIDS day will be made. Community members, staff, high profile individuals and celebrities will be approached to promote and wear a purple ribbon which expresses commitment to prevent violence and solidarity with victims of violence. The campaign was launched in 2000. Ten thousand ribbons will be distributed.	-	On going
4) Drama performances	Over 30 drama performances within 22 parishes in Kawempe. Three community drama groups and one police drama group have been identified and trained to address how violence against women affects communities and have developed engaging dramas that will be performed in open spaces within the community. Experienced activists, who also have theatrical flair, have developed pro-women storylines. The intention is to create a major event that will serve as a basis to begin a dialogue with a broad range of people around how domestic violence affects families and therefore communities.	Kawempe Division	Two Drama show per day in each parish during 16 Days
5) Traveling exhibitions	An interactive exhibition that stimulates the viewer to ask deeper questions about why domestic violence occurs and what the community can do to prevent domestic violence will be exhibited in strategically identified workplaces. The exhibition will be at Mulago Hospital and KCC Clinics as well as Kiira Road police station, Wandegeya police station and at Kawempe police station.	Mulago Hospital, KCC Clinics, Kira road Police station,Wandegeya police station, Kawempe Police station	Through out the 16 days.
6) Community Dialogues	14 open meetings will be held within Kawempe where community members will be invited to discuss prevalence of domestic violence and what the community can do about it. Each meeting is expected to attract at least 20 key local decision makers and 40 to 50 community members.	Kawempe Division	One each day within the 16 days
7) Discussions in workplaces	Staff from the advocacy department will visit at least 100 people in their workplaces to engage them in a dialogue about how the community can prevent domestic violence.	Kawempe Division, NGOs,Canpanies, etc	On going
8) Booklet Clubs	A popular format booklet has been published that engages women and men in discussing the nature of their interpersonal relationships and how it can lead to domestic violence. 66 volunteers have been trained to form clubs of 10 people in their own neighborhood.	Within Kawempe	On going
9) Competition	A competition will be organized within schools in Kawempe and also community wide for the best essay or picture on how to prevent domestic violence or how domestic violence affects the victim and his/her family.	In schools and in Kawempe community.	Held a week before the 16 days
10) Murals	Seventeen colorful murals will be painted in strategic locations within the community, police stations, which model non-violent behaviors.	Three police stations of Kira road,Wandenya, Kawempe	One week before the 16 days
11) Learning materials	9,300 Posters and 2000 booklets all depicting anti-violence messages will be distributed throughout Kawempe, NGOs, and other civil society organizations to reinforce the message of violence prevention.	-	On going
12) Columns	Columns will be published in The New Vision, Monitor and in vernacular papers addressing domestic violence and how it affects the community.	-	During the 16 days
13) Radio programs	Talk shows on Radio star, Radio Akaboozi , Radio mama and three drama based Open Court show on radio Simba. All shows will focus on preventing violence against women.	-	During the 16 days
14) Radio spots	150 short (1-2 minute) infomercials on popular radio stations such as Star, Simba, Radio Mama, and Akaboozi.	-	During the 16 Days
15) TV program	Production of a show to celebrate International Day of Elimination of Violence Against Women	-	On going
16) T-shirts and stickers	1500 T Shirts with awareness messages to commemorate 16 days of activism.2000 stickers with anti-violence messages distributed to Taxi drivers and Boda-Boda riders,etc	-	-
17) Documentation	Professional videographer will be hired who will document and place activities on the news announcement of all major radio and TV stations (CBS, Star, Capital, Sanyu, Radio Uganda, Mama FM, MonitorFM , UTV, WBS and CTV). A professional photographer will also be hired to document activities throughout the sixteen days.	-	During the 16 days
18) Vigil	Community Members come together one evening to share and celebrate the positive change achieved in the community. It will also involve some testimonies from other guests	Kawempe Division	9th December 2003
19) Quilt	Encourage Community Members to write the names of friends, relatives who died of DV on a piece of clothe strategically stationed in one place	Kawempe Division	On going during the 16 days
20) Video Shows	Regular activity (video show) where community members gather and watch a video on domestic violence and have discussions thereafter.	Kawempe Division	On going

Last update: November 26-2003