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

GAMES FOR CHANGE
Games for Change is a non-profit organization that supports and makes digital games
for social impact. They have created a toolkit specifically targeted towards organizations
that want to use digital games to further their social-issue driven missions and outreach.
The kit is a resource to help organizations develop a game strategy for outreach and to
show them the steps and resources that are necessary to lead a successful project. See
the website.
BREAKAWAY
Breakway by Champlain College’s Emergent Media Center (EMC) and Population
Media Center (PMC) with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), is
a web-based football video game aimed at developing the intrapersonal skills of
adolescents and young people to foster healthier relationships and gender equality.
Available in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish.
REPLAY: FINDING ZOE
This resource, by Metrac, is an online game for youth aged 8 to 14 years. The game
teaches youth how to challenge behaviours and attitudes about healthy relationships
based on equality and respect. The video games are accompanied by resource booklets
for youth, educators and parents. Available in English and French.
For additional games, see the tools database of the Virtual Knowledge Centre.
6.11 COMMUNICATION IN CAMPAIGNS FOR POLICY/INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE
OVERVIEW
Campaigns that address violence against women and girls (VAW) through policy or
institutional (advocacy) change rely on time-tested advocacy tools and creative new
approaches to reach target audiences, i.e. those who can make the change the
campaign calls for (primary targets) and those who can influence decision-makers and
their decision-making on institutional change, e.g. voters (secondary targets). One set of
tools focuses on presenting facts and policy alternatives to primary targets, i.e. the
decision makers, through lobbying, open letters, model policies and research reports, for
example. Another set is designed to mobilize public support and pressure for the
campaign goal, e.g. through demonstrations, public hearings, and petitions.
If the campaign focus is change in laws and their enforcement, see also the Module on
Legislation.
Issues to note when deciding on communications tools for policy/institutional
change campaigns:
� Situational analysis, particularly in terms of the legal climate and legal frameworks,
and the existence or lack of policies and institutional structures related to ending
VAW, is a critical exercise both before and during a campaign (to reflect any
contextual changes as the campaign progresses).
� When advocating for change in laws, and institutional policies and practices,
dialogue should be sought with the decision-makers to be influenced, both
before and during the campaign. Allies within institutions can provide advice on
effective tactics, channels and tools to influence targets, or can publicly support the
campaign and enhance its chances of success.
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Campaigns December 2011