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

screened, a documentary film about the tragic disappearances and murders of hundreds
of young women from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, since the 1990s.
Tips for vigils
� Organize the vigil carefully in advance with a core group of participants so that you
do not need to break the silence during the vigil. Designate a few participants who
can quietly explain the purpose of the vigil to media representatives or to passers-by
if needed.
� Choose a fitting, high-profile venue, advertise for the vigil in advance and invite the
media to cover the event. Place at least one large poster in a visible spot to advertise
your cause. You can also quietly hand out leaflets, and set up a table with lists to
collect signatures for a petition.
� For a candlelit vigil, use candles in transparent jars to protect the flame against the
wind. You can ask each participant to bring one, or centrally organize a few dozen
large candles and place them around the assembly.
Speeches and Public Statements
Public speaking is important for any campaign that includes public events. Speeches,
oral statements and formal declarations can be made at the start or end of rallies and
marches, at conferences, and during the sessions of international treaty monitoring
bodies (such as CEDAW). Distribute copies of a written version of the statement to any
relevant stakeholders. The written version can take different forms – for general tips on
the format and content see Policy briefs and Letters and petitions.
A good example is the Third World Congress (WCIII) Against the Sexual Exploitation of
Children and Adolescents held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2008 that provided a venue
for 137 governments, civil society representatives, UN agencies, international and
intergovernmental organisations, the private sector, children and young people as well
as new actors, such as representatives from industry, religious leaders, national
ombudspersons and First Ladies to review global commitments and galvanize
international will and support for the protection of children and adolescents. The result of
this Congress was an agreed public statement – the ECPAT Rio de Janeiro Declaration:
A Snapshot Summary for Children and Adolescents, 2009, that was made accessible to
children and adolescents.
Making a speech – Practical tips
� Plan your speech. Clarify your objective and express your message in a way that
captures the attention of your audience. If you speak to an audience with little
awareness of the causes and consequences of VAW, point out facts which show that
VAW is a problem affecting the entire society, and that women and girls, men and
boys are likely to benefit from ending such violence. Think of questions your
audience may ask, and prepare keywords for the answers.
� Prepare a written, structured outline. You can use the outline, or a set of cue cards,
during the speech. Prepare any visual aids you want to use.
� Your introduction should explain who you are, present the topic and why it is
important. It should engage listeners, e.g. with an anecdote, a friendly comment
about the venue, or a striking statistic on violence against women and girls that your
audience (including men) can relate to (e.g. “one in three women, i.e. probably a
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Campaigns December 2011