'16 Days of activism against Gender Violence: 16 Stories towards Ending violence against women!'
Voices of victims of Violence are rarely heard. Cultural barriers, media biases and stigma surrounding, ‘domestic’ violence makes it difficult for such victims to come out and express their views. In other countries sexual violence such as rape has been used as weapons against the enemies and has left victims traumatized. The silence has further been perpetuated by the secrecy through which the issues have been handled, economic pay outs that have been used to silence the victims, and the use of power and authority (imagined or real) of the perpetrators of the violence. Many cases of gender based violence are not reported and this is worse in situations of conflict.
In light of the above, CIVICUS and partners (Women'sNet & Crisis Coalition) through its gender and diversity focal point has seen it necessary to raise the voices of people who have gone through different kinds of violence during the 16 Days of activism against gender based violence. CIVICUS will collect original stories from victims of violence,civil society activist and other actors to highlight the prevalence of gender based violence, its regeneration and intersection from the home to the world and how it affects peace building in the world.
Women'sNet is collaborating with Crisis Coalition Zimbabwe and Civicus to raise awareness of violence against women through screening of a dvd consisting of 16 different stories from victims of violence, civil society actors, health and legal experts. During the screening of the event a panel of experts working on gender based violence will highlight the drivers of violence and suggest solutions to end violence against women.
