/Swiss campaign «16 days against violence against women» includes structural violence
Switzerland will be launching its second «16 days» campaign with a press conference on the 23rd of November 2009. Participants of the panel include Swiss Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf as well as representatives of Trade Unions, Counselling Services and peace organizations that play a leading role in the swiss campaign.
Over 60 events will take place during the 16 days, among them are:
Around 15 debates discussing diverse issues such as security from women's perspectives, implications of masculinity in post-conflict contexts, implications of the financial crisis on gender equality, women's rights, victims in Columbia that became activists, sexual harassment at the workplace…
Approximately 6 street actions such as a «radio-ballet» a kind of flash-mob in pantomime where participants' actions are choreographed via radio, attracting the attention of passer-bys.
Campaign materials will be distributed during at least 5 occasions in the streets - to commuters coming out of the train stations, shoppers, sometimes accompanied by music or lights effects, with apples, roses, white ribbons, pins or buttons.
5 concerts challenge violence against women with specific music texts.
4 conferences develop strategies against stalking, female genital mutilation, forced marriages, or discuss working with men.
4 church services are devoted to overcoming violence.
3 exhibits include sexism in advertisement, female genital mutilation and trafficking of women.
2 theater pieces show how hard it is to get out of domestic violence situations.
2 films depict violence against women in other cultural contexts.
Art workshops develop own ways to confront violence, children draw their own images and others write their own slogans. Self defence workshops take place.
And that's not all!
How do we tackle such a multitude of issues with such diverse methods?
More than 60 partners are participating with their own activities - these include women's organizations, counselling services for victims, women's shelters, youth groups, peace organizations, unions and agencies working with victims in and outside our country. This enables us to open the campaign to various aspects of violence against women specifically including structural violence which is often ignored.
Among the events designed to reach various target groups are conferences and debates between experts.
The feminist peace organization cfd launched and coordinates these activities with numerous groups and organizations. See www.16tage.ch for the full agenda with over 65 events (in German).
Amanda Weibel, Coordinator and Campaigner