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

eady to publish it free of charge (either as a letter to the editor, or an op-ed). Follow the
tips on letter-writing above.
Petitions
Petitions, in campaigning, are formal requests (in the form of letters or otherwise) made
to a decision-maker, government or other public entity, that are signed by an individual,
or a group of people in support of the cause
When to use petitions?
� If it is likely a large number of people will sign on to the group petition, or submit
individual petitions to support the cause.
� If the government or institution addressed is bound by laws and policies that require
it to respond to petitions. In some countries, public institutions run e-petition websites
- see for example government sites from the UK and Germany.
A number of websites, such as The Petition Site explain the precise steps of creating
on-line petitions (e-petitions). The Petition Site also presents a number of existing
petitions, including on women’s rights. Change.org is a website that offers free petition
tools that allow anyone to start, join and win campaigns.
Practical tips on petition writing
� Base the petition on a clear, single proposal (e.g. a specific change in law, or the
release of a woman unjustly detained) and address it to the specific person or
institution who can take the decision you ask for.
� Make the text short and clear. Test it with someone who knows nothing about the
campaign before making it public to verify the petition for its clear and compelling
style.
� Do not forget to include a space where people write their name and signature.
Consider including extra space for contact details, as well as a box people can tick
if they want to receive more information about your campaign – and follow up quickly
if they do.
� Distribute the petition, most commonly via e-mail or other e-campaigning
tools, and encourage as many people to sign on to the petition as possible. Make a
special effort to get persons in positions of authority and other well-known people to
sign on. Supporters need to send the petition back to the organizers so that it can be
forwarded to the decision-maker addressed with the list of signatories.
� Publicize the handing over of the petition to the decision-maker, e.g. by inviting
the media and writing a press release.
Bear in mind:
On-line petitions are an easy way to express support for a cause. But so many of them
circulate that yours may not receive the required attention – unless you embed it into a
wider campaign plan that mixes and matches several tools. Before signing on to a
petition that reaches you, verify whether it is ethically sound (see Guiding Principles).
Demonstrations, marches and rallies
Demonstrations, marches, public meetings (rallies) and sit-ins are classic, and
potentially powerful, ways of expressing public opinion on an issue.
When to organize a demonstration or rally?
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Campaigns December 2011