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

� If it is highly likely to rally a sufficient number of participants – i.e., public opinion on
the issue is so strong one can expect a sufficient number of participants (“turnout”)
and some media coverage.
� If it is linked to a wider campaign on the cause addressed, e.g. the 16 Days of
Activism campaign.
� When an important political decision (e.g. a vote in Parliament on a law pertaining to
violence against women) or event is imminent.
Example: Reclaim the Night (“Take Back the Night” in the USA) started in the 1970s
as a series of demonstrations in the UK and the USA. Around the world, women’s
groups continue to organize marches to claim their right to walk in public without fear of
sexual harassment or sexual assault.
Bear in mind:
- Demonstrations and rallies are intended to show public concern for a cause, i.e. the
opinion of a wide cross-section of society. In many contexts, violence against
women and girls is still widely considered a “women’s issue”, or a problem affecting
only socially marginalized people. This stereotype must be challenged by rallying a
diverse cross-section of society for the cause, bringing together women and men of
different ages and different backgrounds.
- It is not a good idea to organize a march or a rally if one cannot count on a large
attendance – it may backfire, suggesting that the cause is not important to the
public. Look for ways to have rallies at times of the day that would ensure large
attendance, e.g. weekends, public holidays and venues of public interest. Other
events likely to attract media coverage, such as vigils or public stunts (described
below) may be more effective in such a case.
In many countries, demonstrations, rallies and marches require legal permits, such as
permission from the authorities to assemble in large numbers, permission to close
certain roads or public venues, etc. Failure to obtain such permits before organizing your
rally could have serious consequences including police involvement in dispersing the
crowd gathered.
Checklist: planning a demonstration, march or rally
� As with all public events, consider whom you want to reach and what you want to
achieve with the demonstration.
� Agree on the main messages you want to broadcast and decide who will be your
main spokespersons.
� Who is going to do what? Appoint one person or a team in charge of overall
organization of the protest. Divide specific responsibilities to other participants.
� Plan the place or route, and timing – if you organize a march, it should start and
end in easily accessible places which are safe for public gatherings. The route
should follow animated areas so as to draw maximum public attention. Usually,
public speeches take place at the end of the march – verify whether speakers can be
heard by the audience (acoustics). To ensure participants remain fresh and
interested, do not plan for more than two hours for the entire event. Sit-ins may last
longer: in a sit-in, people sit down in a public space linked to the cause, e.g. the site
of a crime or a court house. One strategy for sit-ins is to threaten not to leave until a
particular problem is solved.
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Campaigns December 2011