16 Days Events & Activities

Say NO to Violence against Women - click to be counted

Africa

The following is a selection of events and activities organized or sponsored by UNIFEM offices in sub-Saharan Africa.

Mauritania | 2007-11-25 – 2007-12-10
Advocacy Campaign on Violence against Women. Aimed at sensitizing members of Parliament, members of Unions and the population at large on violence against women and the existing laws condemning this violence. The campaign will include a round table, a conference, a legal caravan and media talks that target decision makers, union leaders, students and the general population. Location: Nouakchott. Sponsors: UNIFEM, FNPDFE (National Forum for the Promotion of Women and Children’s Rights). Contact: Mame Selbee Diouf Ndiaye, selbee.ndiaye@unifem.org, +221 33 869 99 40.

Zimbabwe | 2007-11-25 – 2007-12-10
Teach-ins in Workplaces. Padare will be visiting workplaces to conscientize them about domestic violence and the newly established Domestic Violence Act. Location: Mhondoro, Harare, Tobacco Procesors, Nestle Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Republic Police. Sponsors: Padare, with UNIFEM support. Contact: Kudzai Makombe, kudzai.makombe@undp.org, +263 4 795972.

Zimbabwe | 2007-11-25 – 2007-12-10
Awareness Raising on Domestic Violence Act. There will be campaigns to conscientize people about the recently enacted Domestic Violence Act. Location: Harare, Bulawayo, Mutare, Nhedziwa. Sponsors: Action Aid, with UNIFEM support. Contact: Kudzai Makombe, kudzai.makombe@undp.org, +263 4 795972.

Zimbabwe | 2007-11-25 – 2007-12-10
Radio Programmes on the Domestic Violence Act. Phone-in sessions where people can ask questions about the Domestic Violence Act. Location: Nationwide, via Radio Zimbabwe. Sponsors: Women Lawyers of Southern Africa. Contact: Kudzai Makombe, kudzai.makombe@undp.org, +263 4 795972.

Rwanda | 2007-11-25 | 18:00 – 19:30
Opening Ceremony: 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence. Vigil ceremony with candles to symbolize every women who has been victimized by violence in Rwanda. Theater FAWE girls. Speeches by the Minister of Gender, Minister of Health, Minister of Security, and UNIFEM Regional Programme Director. Location: Primature, Kigali. Sponsors: UN Rwanda and CARE. Contact: Olivia Forsberg, olivia.forsberg@unifem.org, +250 3012173.

Zimbabwe | 2007-11-25 | 09:00 – 15:00
Marches to Endorse the Domestic Violence Act of Zimbabwe. People marched with banners to celebrate the recently endorsed Domestic Violence Act. Location: Masvingo, Bulawayo, Mutare, Gweru, Marondera, Bindura, Beitbridge and Kariba. Sponsors: Women's Coalition of Zimbabwe. Contact: Kudzai Makombe, kudzai.makombe@undp.org, +263 4 795972.

Zimbabwe | 2007-11-25 | 10:00 – 16:00
Provincial Launches of the 16-365 Days of Activism on Gender Violence. Speeches made by political and church leaders in solidarity with campaign. Location: Bulawayo, Harare, Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland West, Mashonaland East, matebeleland North, Matebeleland South. Sponsors: Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development. Contact: Kudzai Makombe, kudzai.makombe@undp.org, +263 4 795972.

Zimbabwe | 2007-11-26 | 10:00 – 15:30
SADC Artists AIDS Festival. Musical artists met to perform against gender violence. Location: Harare. Sponsors: Rooftop Promotions, UNIFEM. Contact: Kudzai Makombe, kudzai.makombe@undp.org, +263 4 795972.

Nigeria | 2007-11-27 – 2007-12-10
Media Advocacy on Violence against Women. Media advocacy and sensitization on VAW are being carried out with several radio stations, a TV station and major Nigerian newspapers. Radio and TV programmes will include interviews with UNIFEM staff, NGOs, Ministry of Women Affairs, and survivors of violence. Location: Abuja. Contact: Ikechukwu Attah, ikechukwu.attah@unifem.org, +234 9 4616309.

Senegal | 2007-11-30 – 2007-12-04
Workshop: Ending Violence against Women in the School Environment. The conference was held with the belief that reducing the rate of violence in the school environment would, in turn, greatly enhance women's education and empowerment. The specific purpose of this conference, which joined representatives from Niger, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Sénégal, Benin, Rwanda, Burundi, Mali, Gabon, Cameroon, DRC, and Guinea, was to identify the causes of violence and device specific strategies to eradicate violence against school girls. Location: Dakar. Sponsors: UNIFEM, AAI (Action Aid International), and the Ministry of Education. Contact: Mame Selbee Diouf Ndiaye, selbee.ndiaye@unifem.org, +221 33 869 99 40. Download Workshop: Ending violence against women in the school environment.

Sudan | 2007-12-05 – 2007-12-10
Darfur IDP Women Say NO TO VIOLENCE. More than 100 IDP (internally dispaced) women to showcase their economic and livelihood products and contribution to family and community welfare within the IDP camps in Nyala. Even though many have expereinced various forms of violence, they have not given up hope. Instead of remaining victims, they have risen up to be counted in the struggle to end violence against women through organizing, voicing their condemnation of VAW while demanding greater protection of their human rights and dinity. Location: Nyala. Sponsors: Common Habitat Fund (CHF International), UNFPA, CARE International, FAO, Mona Solar and Environment, NAHDA Women and Children Organization, and UNIFEM. Contact: Dr Mary Okumu_UNIFEM_Nyala_South Darfur, maryokumu@yahoo.com, +249-923-846-503.

Rwanda | 2007-12-05 | 10:30 – 16:00
Visit to Rwanda Association of Trauma Counselors (ARCT). Solidarity visit to victims of violence against women and sensitization, in cooperation with AVEGA-AGAHOZO. The visit will include donation of appropriate items and provision of information about ARCT activities. Location: Kigali. Sponsors: UN Rwanda and CARE. Contact: Olivia Forsberg, olivia.forsberg@unifem.org, +250 3012173.

Rwanda | 2007-12-06 | 07:30 – 16:00
Visit to Kiziba Refugee Camp. Sensitization seminar on human rights, gendered violence and the victims of VAW on where one can seek assistance and what type of support authorities/organizations can provide. Visitors will be able to talk to the refugees and get a clear insight into their situation. There will also be donations of solidarity of appropriate items. Location: Western province, close by Kibuye. Sponsors: UN Rwanda and CARE. Contact: Olivia Forsberg, olivia.forsberg@unifem.org, +250 3012173.

Rwanda | 2007-12-10 | 10:30 – 13:00
UN Staff Training on Stopping Violence against Women. Awareness-raising event for UN staff, to take place on International Human Rights Day so that it can serve as the UN's commemoration of that day, by highlighting gender-based violence as a human rights issue. Location: WFP, Kigali. Sponsors: UN Rwanda. Contact: Irene Zirimwabagabo, irene.zirimwabagabo@unifem.org.

Burkina Faso | 2007-12-26 – 2007-12-28
Workshop: Lifting the Constraints to an Efficient Application of the FGM Law in Burkina Faso. Workshop to identify major difficulties restraining the application of the law condemning female genital mutilations (FGM), and to formulate new strategies that will improve the application of the FGM law and the eradication of the practice in Burkina Faso. Participants will be decision makers and actors that promote the abandonment of female genital mutilations. Location: Ouagadougou. Sponsors: UNIFEM, CRIGED (Intervention and research Center in Gender and Development). Contact: Mame Selbee Diouf Ndiaye, selbee.ndiaye@unifem.org.

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