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

Read more in the publication: Gaye, O., Using Popular Theatre to Break the Silence
Around Violence Against Women, Réseau Africain pour le Dévelopement Integré, 2004
(in English and French).
� For more tips, consult the Guide to Interactive Drama for Sexual and
Reproductive Health with Young People by the International HIV/AIDS Alliance
(2008). The international Theatre of the Oppressed Organization provides links to
Forum Theatre practitioners around the world. Many groups provide training for
social activists.
Demonstrations
Demonstrations, marches and rallies are potentially powerful ways of expressing public
feeling on an issue. In communities they can be part of local-level political advocacy
(e.g. to protest against a judgment which has failed to punish a rapist) or a celebration or
commemoration (e.g. International Women’s Day, a campaign launch). Please refer to
Demonstrations, marches, rallies for step-by-step guidance on when and how to
organize these.
Film screening and participatory video production
Meetings involving a video or film screening can attract large audiences in contexts
where people do not have easy access to television. Using mobile power units and
simple equipment, you can show films virtually anywhere.
A particularly powerful way to stimulate discussion is digital video production by, or with
the participation of, community members. Both the product and the process of videomaking
stimulate critical thought and discussion among participants and viewers, who
are emotionally engaged by seeing themselves and other community members on
screen. To draw maximum benefit from video production, make sure women and girls
from the community play leading roles in it. For guidance and tools on producing videos,
see Video, Film, Radio under Audio-visual media in this module.
Example: The ‘Through Our Eyes’ participatory video initiative was piloted in
Guinea and Liberia in 2005 by the American Refugee Committee (ARC) in collaboration
with Communication for Change. Project activities began with a two-week training
workshop in participatory video carried out at Lainé refugee camp (Guinea) for ARC field
staff and members of camp committees responsible for referring sexual and gender
based violence cases to ARC. Participants learned how to use the equipment, engage
community members, carry out interviews and develop team skills in programme
planning and filming. At the end of the training course they made a documentary on
early/ forced marriage and short dramas on rape and community response to domestic
abuse.
Liberia-based ARC staff returned home with their video equipment and proceeded to
share their skills with community peers who had been trained in SGBV prevention and
response. This new team soon produced their first video: a profile of a local man, a
former alcoholic who used to abuse his wife but who had overcome his addiction and
become a responsible husband and father.
Community screenings – ‘playbacks’ – of the team’s video productions have prompted
many individuals to seek ARC services. Community peers and field staff open the
sessions by describing ARC’s gender based violence-related programme and services.
237
Campaigns December 2011