This week we are in the 16 days of activism week - which runs from Nov 25 to December 10 - in between are significant days for women
Nov 25 is International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
Dec 1 - World AIDs Day
Dec 3 - International Day for PWD - Persons with disability
Dec 10 - Human Rights Day
The theme for 2025 is apt - Unite to End Digital violence against all women and girls
This is our reality now - violence against women has infiltered the digital space and spreads like wildfire - we need to keep informed, keep speaking up and equipping each other especially the girls to be confident and not let digital bullies have their way!
Anyways...16 days has fond memories for me
In September 1998, I stepped into COVAW having never heard the words Womens rights, Human rights, UDHR, let alone a whole campaign called 16 days of Activism! We received initial funding from CIDA and went into full gear planning for the 16 days including marking 50yrs of UDHR - Universal Declaration of Human Rights
How things have changed! Like we used to send invitations via fax to all media houses and agencies - and needed interns/volunteers to do this. Am sure someone here will wonder what a fax machine is!
The logistics for the events was something else - we made lots of IEC materials - posters, banners, leaflets, tshirts - and since donor funds came so late, we did this at the very last minute. We had a vendor who was used by many agencies to do T-shirts (he used to actually stitch them and print the message) and at one time he mixed the order and so the COVAW tshirts that were sent to Taita Taveta had on message for another agency at the back!! weuhh
How would I have done it differently? since we know we shall mark the campaign, prequalify suppliers and be ready just to issue the order once funds are received; avoid the last minute dash.
The designs for the IEC materials were just from us..and this used to amaze me since I didnt think that an idea I have can actually be translated and placed on a campaign item. So we used to have images of women being down and a man over them to show violence against women - and one Board member came and said we need to show women in better light! That was the design of a strong woman holding the womans sign! Loved it...and this lesson i have carried with me...everytime my view is needed on IEC, I remember, keep it positive!
What a ride!
Now the campaign is run by government, just the way it should be!
Keep safe in this digital space :)
