Re-examining Gender Based Violence, Strengthening Advocacy Work: 21 Days of Learning for 16 Days of Activism
Date: October 25 – November 13, 2010
Venue: Isis International, 3 Marunong Street, Barangay Central, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
Isis International believes that at the core of effective advocacy is holistic communications strategies. As such, Isis has worked to engage its partners and networks to look into the theory and practice of feminist development communications for effective advocacy work through the Isis International Activist School on Feminist Development Communications.
The Isis International Activist School is part of the organisation's efforts to systematise capacity building on gender and development communications for activists, feminists, and development practitioners on a variety of issues such as peace, human rights, migration, gender based violence and LGBT advocacy. One of the more recently conducted activist school was held in August 2010 on the Isis International Activist School on Engendering Climate Justice.
In time for activities and campaigns for the annual 16 Days of Activism, Isis would like to contribute towards a gathering of practitioners and activists for a three-week workshop on Re-examining Gender Based Violence, Strengthening Advocacy Work: 21 Days of Learnings for 16 Days of Activism.
Rethinking Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Strategising Advocacies
The United Nations defines violence against women as any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life. There are many forms of violence against women, including sexual, physical, or emotional abuse by an intimate partner; physical or sexual abuse by family members or others; sexual harassment and abuse by authority figures (such as teachers, police officers or employers); trafficking for forced labour or sex; and such traditional practices as forced or child marriages, dowry-related violence; and honour killings, when women are murdered in the name of family honour. Systematic sexual abuse in conflict situations is another form of violence against women. Feminists have taken part in naming and analysing this experience of violence by women.
As awareness on gender based violence progressed, communities, organisations and governments have taken a stand to denounce and actively work to combat violence against women through a variety of programs. At the international level, a UN resolution has designated November 25 as International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, that gives importance to all of these efforts. This mandate has given way to women's groups from all over the world to join hands in a campaign now known as the 16 Days of Activism Against Violence Against Women (November 25-December 10).
Despite the joint efforts and progress made, to date, gender based violence still remains the biggest challenge in addressing women's human rights and gender equality. Realising the work at hand, organisations continue to be invested in understanding the experience of violence. New perspectives and new strategies have emerged to effectively address gender-based violence. As women’s organisations all over the world think of ways to take action in the upcoming 16 Days of Activism, we are faced with the urgent task to understand and further reflect on appropriate practices, and strategies for addressing gender based violence within specific contexts.
Isis International, in its aim to contribute to current efforts in addressing gender based violence, offers a space for learning, exchange and interaction among development workers in the area of GBV from the Asia Pacific region.
The Isis International Activist School has allotted 21 days for: learning and exchange on gender based violence within a multi-cultural setting; exploring new perspectives and frameworks in understanding GBV; field visits to various organisations and learn about existing and emerging practices in addressing GBV; sharing on organisational development strategies for strengthened institutional practice on addressing GBV; understanding the role of feminist development communications in sharpening advocacy for GBV; and practical training on the use of key development communication tools for advocacy and campaigns for the 16 Days of Activism and beyond. It is within this context that we have designed the three-week workshop with the following objectives:
* To share country / region specific experience of gender based violence and ways this is being addressed by activists from various of agencies, organisations and networks;
* To sharpen the understanding of the progression of theories and frameworks on understanding gender based violence;
* To engage in a learning exchange with groups and organisations on current practices and strategies in addressing GBV;
* To identify ways this new learning can shape organisational practice and advocacy strategies;
* To develop advocacy and communication plans that reflect the learning from the three-week workshop; and
* To produce the multi-media productions and other communication materials utilising the newly acquired skills and knowledge for the upcoming 16 days activism.
How will the activist school programme be implemented? The activist school is grounded in participatory and experiential learning and will use creative, and interactive methodologies that ensure maximum participant and facilitator interaction within a non-threatening, and enriching learning environment. In the history of its capacity building work, Isis has maintained a pool of resource persons from the academe, social movements, media, and development communications fields in Asia and the Pacific . Their expertise will be tapped to enhance and intensify the activist school programme.
Who can participate? Women in top to middle management of organisations working on the issue of gender based violence in the Asia Pacific Region.
What are the required language skills? The workshop will be conducted in English. Handouts and reading materials that will be distributed will also be in English. However, fluency in English is not a requirement since peer translation may be facilitated for you. Participants who can speak English will be asked to translate for their co-participants, their contribution towards this work will be considered a non-monetary counterpart.
Who can apply for scholarships? Full scholarship, which covers travel expenses and board and lodging for the duration of the workshop, are limited to participants representing organisations working on the issue of GBV in Asia Pacific only. Participants coming from other parts of the world may also participate but will be asked to cover their own travel expenses. Participants are also encouraged to attend the workshop with the full financial support of their organisations, when possible. This is to ensure that more individuals are able to participate.
What is expected of the participants? Selected participants will be expected to attend the all of the sessions and give their full and active participation. Other expectations are detailed as follows:
During the workshop:
* Share knowledge, skills and experiences;
* Contribute to a conducive atmosphere for learning and exchange;
* Take part in the evaluation sessions;
After the workshop:
* Implement the advocacy communications plan that will be drafted during the workshop;
* Share learning and skills after the workshop through echo-sessions with respective organisations and networks;
* Participate in the Isis Activist School tracer study on post workshop monitoring and evaluation three months after the workshop to share the outcomes of participants' post workshop activities.
For submission of applications and requirements, or for more information on the Isis Activist School please contact Erika and Sabrina of the Governance, Communications and Democracy Programme:
Erika Rosario, Programme Associate
Email: erika@isiswomen.org
Tel. No: +63 2 9281956 local 114
More information here.
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