16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence

November 28, 2012

Violence against women and girls affects countries all over the world, including Nicaragua and the United States. Gender-based violence is a global pandemic that knows no borders, and cuts across ethnic, racial, socio-economic, and religious lines. One in three women around the world will experience some form of gender-based violence in her lifetime. This abuse has countless negative effects and real social and economic costs.

November 25 marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and is the beginning of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence. This campaign offers all of us an opportunity to renew our shared commitment to free women and girls from violence and to advocate for their human rights. Speaking about the importance of confronting violence against women, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, “it is time for all of us to assume our responsibility to go beyond condemning this behavior, to taking concrete steps to end it, to make it socially unacceptable, to recognize it is not cultural; it is criminal.”

The global community, national governments, international organizations and local advocates must all coordinate and cooperate to address gender violence. By working together, we can (1) prevent violence from occurring, (2) protect survivors of abuse, (3) ensure accountability for perpetrators, and (4) advocate for long-term solutions. The following best practices stem from these four categories of action, providing a set of recommendations for concrete action for advocates in their continued work against gender violence. We have also profiled 16 organizations, one for each day of the 16 Days Campaign, who are working here in Nicaragua, in the U.S., and around the world, and who are fighting to give women a better future that is free of violence.

BEST PRACTICES AND ADVOCATE PROFILES

1. PREVENTION: By working closely with local communities and grassroots organizations, including men and boys, the social norms surrounding violence against women can change.
   1. The Global Fund for Women: A U.S-based non-profit that works internationally, the Global Fund for Women is a grant-making organization that advances women’s human rights by strengthening women’s organizations. They provide resources directly to grassroots, local organizations, including groups all over the world who work at a community-level to prevent gender violence.
   2. The Center for Violence Prevention (El Centro de Prevención de la Violencia, CEPREV): CEPREV is a nonprofit organization founded in 1997 to improve society by applying a model of violence prevention that contributes to a culture of peace in Nicaragua. They have a comprehensive approach to fight against violence that incorporates men in the search for solutions.
2. PREVENTION: Political representation and participation, alongside economic empowerment, promote gender equality and can help ensure that women have control over their own futures.
   1. The White House Project: A non-partisan, non-profit organization that promotes women’s leadership in business and politics. They connect, coach, and educate a growing network of future female leaders in the United States, and advocate on behalf of women’s leadership.
   2. Vital Voices-Nicaragua (Voces Vitales-Nicaragua): Vital Voices identifies, trains and empowers emerging leaders and social entrepreneurs around the country and contributes to the economic empowerment of women. The Vital Voices network has presence in over 150 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Latin America, and the chapter in Nicaragua joined this global network in 2009. Since then, they have worked with more than 400 women in 21 municipalities.
3. PROTECTION: Effectively identifying survivors of gender-based violence is the first step in providing services and in removing victims from a harmful environment. 
   1. National Domestic Violence Hotline: The Hotline is a non-profit organization and the only domestic violence hotline in the United States, providing 24-hour access and support to victims through an emergency telephone number that operates in 170 languages. The organization also runs violence programming across the country, and operates over 4,000 shelters.
   2. Network of Women Against Violence (Red de Mujeres contra la Violencia, RMCV): The Network provides a forum for broad, diverse, and active coordination among women’s organizations to promote new forms of nonpartisan politics without discrimination based on ethnicity, age, or religion. In particular, it supports work to identify and support victims of violence.
4. PROTECTION: Survivors should receive integrated care, including access to services beyond doctors and nurses, such as psychological services, self-defense courses, and vocational training.
   1. National Network to End Domestic Violence: This U.S. network is an alliance of shelters, anti-violence programs, and other advocates and is a leading organization for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. The network provides local and state-level training to strengthen the way communities respond to violence, and advocate for a wider view of post-abuse care – including an emphasis on economic empowerment and continuing education.
   2. The March 8 Burgos Collective (El Colectivo 8 de Marzo Burgos): The Collective provides information, training, counseling, and other services to women, youth, and adolescents to increase awareness about human rights—with emphasis on sexual and reproductive rights, citizenship and non-violence. It provides integrated services to victims of violence in a shelter in Managua.
5. ACCOUNTABILITY: Governments must work with multiple stakeholders to craft legislation, and pass laws that protect women and prosecute violators.
   1. Together for Girls: An innovative non-profit organization, Together for Girls works in partnership with national governments, civil society, and the private sector – and was founded by an equally diverse coalition. They bring attention to the issue of sexual violence against girls by supporting country-driven efforts for change, including a focus on legal and policy reform.
   2. Movement Maria Elena Cuadra, MEC (El Movimiento María Elena Cuadra): This non-profit is a board, pluralistic, independent movement of women that promotes and ensures the inclusion and full participation, on equal terms, of women in Nicaraguan society, based on the universal principles of equality, freedom and social justice. It recently led an intense lobbying effort for the adoption of a comprehensive law to protect women.
6. ACCOUNTABILITY: Perpetrators can be brought to justice only by confronting impunity and strengthening legal and judicial systems.
   1. UNiTE to End Violence Against Women: This UN campaign aims to eliminate violence against women and girls in all parts of the world, bringing together UN agencies and other organizations to work collectively. The campaign emphasizes working closely with governments, and helps to mobilize support for legislative action.
   2. Autonomous Women’s Movement, MAM (El Movimiento Autónomo de Mujeres): This autonomous social and political movement calls for equality, freedom, and solidarity in the construction of a political, economic and socially equal democracy. The movement has been an integral part of a an ongoing effort to reduce impunity in Nicaragua.
7. ADVOCACY: By targeting youth through educational and media programs, we can make sure that newer generations understand the seriousness of violence against women.
   1. Half the Sky: A U.S. based movement with an international-focus, Half the Sky brings together videos, websites, games, blogs, and other educational tools to raise awareness of women’s issues. The wide variety of media, a large group of celebrity advocates, and the participatory nature of the movement all aim to appeal to younger generations. 
   2. Let’s Talk About Us (Hablemos de Nosotras): This Nicaraguan organization produces and broadcasts educational radio programs addressing gender issues, health, human rights, and also alternative music. The group participates in national and regional networks regarding the strategy behind effective communication, and has created a local human rights defense group. Using non-traditional communication opens the program to new groups, including young people.
8. ADVOCACY: Public awareness campaigns and other media can help encourage widespread dialogue on gender-based violence and build understanding.
   1. International Women of Courage Award: Every year, the U.S. Department of State honors women from across the globe who have shown exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for women’s rights and advancement. This award is a unique opportunity to recognize those who have worked tirelessly to improve the lives of women, and helps highlight both their challenges and successes. 
   2. Movement Against Sexual Abuse (El Movimiento contra el Abuso Sexual): This Nicaraguan movement works to change the “machismo” culture that supports and encourages sexual abuse by running awareness campaigns, forming support networks, and working with other advocacy tools. The group focuses on educating the general public and the Nicaraguan government in terms of the severity of gender violence in Nicaragua.