Campaigns to End Violence against Women and Girls - Virtual ...

(Oxfam murals with messages painted on Oxfam water tanks raising awareness of
domestic violence against women, Vaharai, north of Batticaloa. Photo: Howard Davies /
Oxfam)
'My father is always shouting at my mother. Why?'' 'Violence destroys the whole family.'
Credit: Jenny Enarsson, Copyright: Oxfam.
Cultural events
There are many ways of using the arts in a campaign. Images, theatre, song and dance
engage audiences through their aesthetic and emotional appeal, thus making the
message more visible and memorable. For example, a story teller could transform the
campaign message into a gripping narrative, or a singer may present a campaign song
with an easy-to-remember melody. Staging colorful cultural displays are also an
effective way to attract media attention. Co-operate with local artists so as to make sure
the product is both faithful to the campaign message and adapted to local taste.
Cultural events are especially effective in communities that have a tradition of local
public performance (street-theatre, singing festivals, etc). Large numbers of people can
be reached at such events, and the sense of community participation created can be
helpful in reinforcing campaign messages, and gaining supporters for the campaign.
Example: The “Vagina Monologues” written by Eve Ensler is an award-winning play that
has been used by activists around the world to generate public attention for violence
against women and girls. The provocative play has captured extensive media coverage,
thus generating further interest in its subject and bringing on board policy makers at the
highest levels.
The play’s success has spawned the “V-Day movement” which raises funds and
awareness through benefit productions of the Vagina Monologues and other artistic
work in countries around the world. The funds have been used to support more than 700
anti-violence networks and organizations that support VAW survivors, most recently
(2010) in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The trailer to the documentary “Until the
Violence Stops” shows how the play has worked in various contexts.
Interactive drama
A powerful way to stimulate critical reflection is the forum theatre approach, such as the
Theatre of the Oppressed method (subsequently adapted as Forum Theatre, Image
Theatre and Invisible Theatre) developed in Brazil in 1971.
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Campaigns December 2011